SPECIAL NOTICE
16 -- Aircraft Electronic Kneeboard
- Notice Date
- 2/21/2003
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Air Force, SAF/AQCK, Contracting Secretariat, 1060 Air Force Pentagon, Washington, DC, 20300-1060
- ZIP Code
- 20300-1060
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-AFXORC1
- Archive Date
- 4/8/2003
- Point of Contact
- Pamela Schwenke, Support Team Lead Contracting, Phone 703-588-7040, Fax 703-588-1055,
- E-Mail Address
-
pamela.schwenke@pentagon.af.mil
- Description
- NOTE: This DRAFT Initial Requirements Document is for an electronic kneeboard or electronic flight bag - This is an unfunded program that is still in concept development. The USAF POC is Mr. Bob Peterman, AF/XORC. Your comments are welcome until 24 Mar 03. bob.peterman@pentagon.af.mil Ph: 703-690-3341 1. Introduction. Revolutionary changes are needed in cockpit information management to maximize our national Air and Space power. Technological advances enable inexpensive e-tools to improve organization, increase situational awareness and speed decision-making to produce safer, more effective peacetime training and wartime employment. The Global Warfighter Information System (GWIS) is the solution. Current platforms incorporate improved displays and information management but fall short of today?s technological potential. Despite advances in cockpit technology, information management has remained nearly unchanged while the amount of data has increased dramatically; the warfighter is drowning in data, but lacks real information. The result is an overwhelming workload. Interim solutions partially fill the immediate need, but are not integrated and do not address complex information management challenge of today?s warfighter. Past improvements in cockpit management were accomplished with expensive hardware and OFP updates but today?s technology allows us to meet the warfighter?s needs in a timely manner at a lower cost with GWIS. The three key components of GWIS are: digitized mission information, a multi-source information portal, and an interactive input/output device - the GWIS Cockpit Data Assistant (CDA). ? Intelligently digitized information can reduce or eliminate the use of paper for flight operations?something that has remained virtually unchanged through 100 years of powered flight. It will place vital information at the warfighters fingertips, leading to improved cockpit information management and increased mission effectiveness. ? The multi-source information portal will load the CDA using feeds from numerous and diverse sources. It will integrate planning tools and programs, and ensure information currency, accuracy and integrity. ? The GWIS CDA will present information with a minimum of effort and distraction. It will be compatible with mission planning systems to load and host aircraft and mission specific information. The CDA will be used in pre-mission, execution and post-mission. The Global Warfighter Information System will significantly improve mission performance, increase efficiency and enhance safety using existing and emerging technology. 1. General Description of Operational Capabilities. 1.1. Mission Need ?DRAFT as of 30 Aug 02? Due to the nature of today?s asymmetric threats, the warfighter has an immediate need for intelligently formatted information to ensure decisive and timely mission execution. The increasingly complex combat environment requires an integrated information system to optimize information management and presentation. Warfighters need to expeditiously exploit all information to execute their mission. By leveraging advances in technology warfighters will possess an information management system that allows them to sustain aerospace dominance today and in the future. 1.2. Current Capabilities ?DRAFT as of 30 Aug 02? The USAF in-flight information architecture consists of non-integrated paper media, aircraft systems, and carry-on communication/computing devices. Examples of information presented on paper media include Flight Information Publications (FLIP), aircraft manuals, checklists, performance manuals, and navigation charts. On board systems include sensors, data links, and displays. Carry on systems combine devices such as Iridium satellite phones, laptop computers (incorporating FalconView moving map), and GPS receivers. 1.3. Concept of Employment. ?DRAFT as of 30 Aug 02? GWIS provides tailored flight and mission information from multiple agencies/sources using COTS/GOTS hardware and software. GWIS is employed through three phases: pre-mission, execution, and post-mission. During the pre-mission phase GWIS will support selecting and loading relevant information to the GWIS Cockpit Data Assistant (CDA). Data will be appropriately validated and formatted at its source and delivered via multiple-source data portals. This data is tailored to fit mission profiles/platforms and may include weather, FLIP/Aeronautical Information, route, Geospatial (charts, imagery), and tasking documents. During the execution phase, mission information will be presented to the warfighter on the GWIS CDA in a timely manner. Mission information includes divert fields, time critical targeting or retasking information, threat updates, airfield diagrams, approach plates, flight manuals, and relevant situational awareness displays including moving map. The CDA will be all-weather, day/night, and Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS) compatible. During the post-mission phase, GWIS will support mission review, debrief, and reporting of relevant flight and mission information. Examples include operational, maintenance, and intelligence reporting. 2. Threat. ?DRAFT as of 30 Aug 02? GWIS interfaces with C4I systems, and has similar vulnerabilities. Possible threats include information warfare (IW), electromagnetic, and physical threats. IW (activities by terrorist groups, foreign intelligence services, or organized crime which may include viruses, data corruption, intrusion, or reverse engineering) is the primary threat. Additionally, electromagnetic threats could degrade system performance. Electromagnetic threats include interception, exploitation, and degradation of commercial and military communication links or the signal environment. Physical threats can also affect the system to include the entire spectrum of direct and indirect fire weapons, environmental factors, chemical contamination, mishandling, lingering/transitory impacts on the electromagnetic environment, and nuclear destruction. 3. Shortcomings of Existing Systems. ?DRAFT as of 30 Aug 02? Warfighters don?t have seamless information flow across pre-mission, execution and post-mission operations. Current cockpit information management is heavily dependent on paper media, which is incapable of rapidly presenting data in a manageable and accessible format. Information presented on paper media is costly to produce, distribute, manage and cannot be integrated or take advantage of advances in technology. The escalating amount of information on paper hinders situational awareness and safety of flight by increasing ?heads down? time. Current onboard information management systems are capability and capacity limited. Although technology is increasing at a great pace, modifications are expensive and time consuming. As a result, workaround solutions have been fielded independent of an overall Air Force design philosophy. While filling a vital need, workarounds are not standardized; can hinder interoperability, have safety implications and run counter to the AEF construct. 4. Capabilities Required ?DRAFT as of 30 Aug 02? GWIS must rapidly exploit technological advances in hardware and software. It must enhance the warfighters ability to manage and organize platform specific operational data, and receive and respond to updates in mission tasking without extensive modifications to weapon systems. To exploit technological advances, GWIS must rely heavily on the use of current and maturing COTS/GOTS systems to improve warfighter capabilities. To improve situational awareness, the system must provide current, timely, and relevant mission information. This requires a system with an accessible, reliable, open architecture and a user-friendly interface. To enhance current capabilities, the system must aid the warfighter during pre-mission, execution, and post-mission. While the following lists are not all-inclusive, they provide examples of capabilities that must be incorporated by spiral development concurrent with technological advances. Pre-Mission: GWIS must provide a single point of access to obtain mission information. Examples of system capabilities include: ? Gather and update mission specific publications in an intelligent digital format ? Gather materials required to perform the mission including those produced by Air Force Mission Support System (AFMSS) ? Give the warfighter the ability to update platform mission data directly Execution: The GWIS CDA must maximize situational awareness through spiral development. Examples of system capabilities include: ? Provide a moving map display ? Provide ready access to required in-flight information and publications (FLIP, flight manuals, checklist, etc). ? Facilitate crew members ability to respond to in-flight mission changes by receiving and presenting mission updates and changes ? Provide time critical information in response to in-flight emergencies (i.e., charts, checklists, nearest suitable divert/recovery airfields). ? Store and present required Geospatial products such as charts and imagery ? Receive and present intelligence updates ? Transfer mission information to support assets and flight members ? Receive target information from multiple sources to include ground, air, and space sources ? Receive and present any other information that improves situational awareness ? Display information in all weather, environmental and lighting conditions Post-Mission: GWIS will simplify and expedite post mission debrief activities. Examples of system capabilities include: ? Provide a mission log to allow for mission reconstruction ? Provide a record of mission information for post-mission debriefs and Battle Damage Assessment 5. Affordability ?DRAFT as of 30 Aug 02? GWIS is an evolutionary program that is dependent upon spiral development for affordability and interoperability. Leveraging COTS/GOTS hardware/software and the present C4ISR architecture will minimize costs. Spirals will occur as hardware and software improve or the C4ISR architecture changes. GWIS lends itself to reduced manpower, training, and sustainment costs through the use of COTS/GOTS hardware and software. An investment in GWIS will pay dividends immediately with large increases in capabilities and result in long-term savings in production and distribution of paper media. 6. Scheduling. ?DRAFT as of 30 Aug 02? The urgent need for rapidly accessible, integrated mission information demands a short delivery timeline for GWIS. An evolutionary and spiral based procurement plan will ensure immediate needs are met and ensure future needs are addressed as technology advances. Table 1 illustrates a notional spiral delivery schedule. Each spiral will implement improvements in GWIS requirement areas. The evolutionary nature of technology will drive the definition of further spirals for each requirement area. 7. Interoperability ?DRAFT as of 30 Aug 02? GWIS must have an open systems architecture and support non-proprietary hardware and software interfaces. CDA Hardware may vary from platform to platform, however GWIS must comply with standard C4I software/hardware interfaces. 8. Summary. ?DRAFT as of 30 Aug 02? The Air Force needs GWIS to harness existing technology and provide timely, accurate, tailored information to enhance mission effectiveness. GWIS will improve cockpit organization, increase situational awareness, facilitate mission retasking, speed decision-making, and enhance safety. Spiral development will enable rapid fielding of GWIS with existing technology and provide an affordable approach for continuous improvement. Today?s warfighter needs GWIS. Table 1, Notional Requirement Areas* ?DRAFT as of 30 Aug 02? Title Definition Hardware Provides warfighters with a family of hardware to host capabilities in the other tracks. Imagery Provides digital imagery. Mission Planning Provides ready access to digital mission planing documents and materials. Flight Operations Publications A Provides Flight Operations Publications, i.e., Interactive Electronic Flight Manuals (IEFM), checklists, basic flight manuals, specific flight manuals. Flight Operations Publications B Provides the remaining Flight Operations Publications. Including, special instructions (SPINS), search and rescue cards, AFIs, In Flight Guides (IFGs), line-up cards, notice to airmen (NOTAMs), Airfield Suitability and Restrictions Report (ASRR), and other MAJCOM required documents. Flight Operations Publications C Provides NIMA digitization of flight information publications (FLIP), nav plan series charts, and imagery. Flight Environment Connectivity Provides data connectivity and power sources. Pre/Post Flight Connectivity Provides connectivity (i.e. docking) for bandwidth intensive updates. Situational Awareness Products Provides geographical annotation tool, and updates from sources such as JSTARS, AWACS, Common Imagery Processor (CIP), Airborne Broadcast System, Multimedia Message Manager, taxi reference tools, and Eagle Vision feeds. In-Flight Information Capabilities Provides instant messaging with AOC, information for post mission processing, etc. Provides automated post-flight maintenance form filler, automated battle damage repair system feed, pilot cam, operational required reports, bubble sheet, and battle damage assessment. Provides electronic messaging. Architecture and Integration Provides overall architecture and ensures interoperability and compatibility across other tracks and spirals. Provides overarching human systems engineering. * - Each area notionally has the opportunity to pursue increased capability through its own spirals, increments, and/or blocks. Some of these may be tailored for specific aircraft or missions, although the goal would be to do so through open architecture standards and interfaces.
- Record
- SN00263071-W 20030223/030221213530 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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