EU multiplatform mission management capabilities for air combat systems

Topic description

Specific Challenge:

The development of a consolidated EU perspective with regard to mid- and long term applications, requirements, solution concepts and technology needs for a EU multiplatform mission management capability for air combat. This call intends to provide a consolidated baseline within the EU Member States and industry in this subject matter, to identify potential “quick-wins” for European air combat capabilities and to set the starting point to ensure a high level of interoperability amongst future developments and products in this domain to finally support the path of achieving the desired air superiority.

Driven by the anticipated future threats in the air combat domain, mainly the existence and proliferation of highly integrated and networked air defence systems, fighter aircrafts of fifth generation and the expected limitations in use of the electromagnetic spectrum, the Capability Development Plan (CDP) highlights the need to integrate and “combine manned and unmanned platforms in a larger operational system”.

The development of future air combat systems will be characterized by an information centric networked approach. The next generation of air combat capabilities is envisaged as a combination of manned platforms – both newly developed and enhanced legacy fighter aircraft platforms–, teamed with a variety of unmanned systems, all equipped with a diversity of sensors and/or effectors.

To enable the variety of different assets to operate during an air operation together jointly and synchronized, to share sensor and effector resources, to share information and situational awareness overall leading to information and ultimately decision superiority to achieve the mission, a highly integrated multiplatform mission management capability will be required.

In the context of this call, this multiplatform mission management capability must be understood as the capability to enable a group, composed of several air combat platforms (manned and unmanned) of different types and capabilities, achieving a common mission task or goal. Moreover, such multiplatform mission management capability must be able to coordinate several groups of air combat platforms in time and space.

Current European air combat systems (e.g. Rafale, Eurofighter, Gripen, European MALE RPAS) are foreseen to be embedded as “enhanced legacy platforms” in the future air combat system(s). Concepts for other unmanned air combat platforms (e.g. remote carriers, smart cruise missiles, UCAV (Unmanned combat aerial vehicle)) are under development in several EU Member States. In the context of multiplatform command and control/mission management, concepts and demonstrators (such as manned-unmanned teaming) are also in development.

With regard to integration and combination of air combat platforms in Europe, on the long-term within a future air combat system, on the mid-term by trying to enhance European air combat capabilities by partial combination and integration of existing systems, the challenges are:

• EU Member States lack a consolidated perspective of use cases, applications, high level operational and technical requirements with regard to multiplatform management capabilities between air combat platforms, manned and unmanned;
• the further development of platform and operating concepts and architectures in national EU Member State silos is prone to hamper interoperability of later on systems and products, causing the need for further investments to harmonize developments at a later stage;
• the need for a contemporary initiation of the development of early multiplatform mission management capabilities based on legacy fighter aircraft platforms to enhance European air combat capabilities in the mid-term, by ensuring later on interoperability with future air combat systems.

The proposals must address the generation of a consolidated perspective of interested EU Member States and industries with regard to mid- and long-term development of an EU multiplatform management capability for air combat systems, manned and unmanned.

The proposals must consider manned fighter aircraft from EU origin (and potentially connectivity with those from non-EU origin), and unmanned combat platform assets/concepts like “Remote Carriers”, UCAVs and “Smart Cruise Missiles”.

The proposals must consider scenarios for air combat operations in contested and highly contested environments.

Targeted activities

The proposals must cover the study and design, not excluding downstream activities, of an EU multiplatform management capability for manned and unmanned air combat systems.

The targeted activities must in particular include:

• the development of potential use cases, scenarios and applications for multiplatform mission management capabilities;
• the derivation of high level operational and technical requirements including human factors or artificial intelligence (AI) elements with regard to multiplatform mission management capabilities;
• the description of the solutions’ space by selected multiplatform mission management concepts;
• the assessment of EU existing technologies with regard to multiplatform mission management and respective technological enablers (e.g. network connectivity);
• a gap analysis of technologies to define respective roadmaps and conduct cost risk mitigation evaluation;
• the identification of “first” mid-term multiplatform mission management application (i.e. potential “quick-wins” based on “enhanced legacy fighter aircrafts”);
• the study, design and implementation of one or several small scale demonstrator(s) and its (their) concept assessment. The output must include:
  • a dynamic display of selected contemporary technologies and small-scale technological demonstrators, in order to make tacit expert knowledge accessible and conduct a nation-specific exchange;
  • the assessment of operational, technical and legal boundaries and limitations, and national specifics.

As a modus operandi, the proposed action must ensure the participation of respective ministries of defence’ representatives, including through interviews and workshops.

Main high-level requirements

The proposed capability should at least be based on:

• significantly improving mission capability and mission efficiency;
• existing and emerging flight safety and airworthiness rules;
• mission joint operativity within a fleet of mixed air platforms;
• MUM-T key operational aspects (including joint ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition & Reconnaissance) supporting combat);
• service oriented architecture principles;
• connectivity/interoperability management principles to set up secure, resilient, agile communication infrastructure and architecture and to provide connectivity services;
• data distribution management principles;
• existing and to be defined open standards and other European initiatives (e.g. ECOA (European Component Oriented Architecture), ESSOR (European Secure Software defined Radio)).

The implemented capabilities should provide enhanced cyber secured interoperability of Member States’ systems involved in air operations (including C2 ground or air assets) and be upgradeable and scalable.

The proposed capability should ensure interoperability with NATO and consider other coalition situations.

• Generation of a consolidated EU perspective of the subject matter within EU Member States’ ministries of defence and EU industry;
• Identification of potential “quick-wins” in the context of multiplatform mission management applications with regard to mid-term enhancements of European air combat capabilities;
• Generation of prerequisites and inputs for the long-term development of future air combat systems definition;
• Provision of a vehicle for cross-ministries of defence and cross-industry exchange in the subject of multiplatform mission management;
• Provision of a potential starting point for developing EU standards to enable further development of interoperable products by EU nations and industry;
• Evaluation of increased mission capability, efficiency and force in air combat missions;
• Identification of technologies for the mission management capability for enhancement of EU Member States combat capability;
• Generation of European technology for multi mission management independent of third countries.