STRIKE AC-130J: Delivered the final production AC-130J, completing AFSOC’s 30-aircraft Gunship fleet, executing 4 Block 20+ to Block 30 retrofits.
ARMED OVERWATCH: Began production on Lot 1 of the Armed Overwatch platform, now designated OA-1K. The first five aircraft are in assembly for delivery to AFSOC. PEO-FW also awarded the second Armed Overwatch delivery order to L3Harris for Lot 2, 9 aircraft, bringing the total number of aircraft on contract to 16. L3Harris successfully completed maximum loads testing on a re-designed wing.
MOBILITY
MC-130J: Delivered four MC-130J Capability Release 2 aircraft with SOF-Peculiar Terrain Following Radar and Airborne Mission Networking systems improving networked communications, and situational awareness during low-level flight.
RADIO FREQUENCY COUNTERMEASURES (RFCM): Delivered two MC-130J aircraft modified with the RFCM system, began Developmental Flight Test on both AC-130J and MC-130J test aircraft, and began first development spiral for software-enabled capability upgrades.
AC/MC-130J INTEGRATED TACTICAL MISSION SYSTEMS: Successfully conducted two live-fire demonstrations of Dahlgren’s Battle Management System Killchain Automation capability on the AC-130J enhancing find, target, and engage operations.
FW TRAINING DEVICES: Delivered first-ever Block 30 configured AC-130J cockpit simulator, three AC-130J Mission Operator Pallet training devices, and two AC-130J aerial gunner training devices.
SILENT KNIGHT RADAR / CV-22
SILENT KNIGHT RADAR: Completed Qualification Flight Tests with the 160th SOAR and final delivery of Enhanced Weather Penetration software, increasing the radar’s performance significantly in heavy precipitation.
CV-22: Modified second aircraft with the AN/APQ-187 Silent Knight Radar for developmental Terrain Following/ Terrain Avoidance flight testing. Ushered 11 CV-22s through Link 16 modifications.
AIRBORNE ISR AND NON-STANDARD AVIATION SYSTEMS
MQ-9: Fielded automated takeoff/landing providing users the ability to launch and recover OCONUS aircraft from a CONUS location and reduce logistical footprint.
MQ-1C: Completed initial operational testing of Gray Eagle Miniaturized Mission Interface increasing capabilities and significantly reducing logistical footprint.
LONG ENDURANCE AIRCRAFT: Provided 7200 hours of 24/7, multi-sensor, no-blink airborne ISR capability flying up to 30 hours/sortie. Upgraded precision navigation capability improving mission performance in degraded GPS environments.
NON-STANDARD AVIATION: While transporting SOF operators and equipment, the 20 aircraft fleet flew over 500 missions moving over 3000 personnel and over 1.5M pounds of cargo in support of operations.
C-27J: Awarded the Cockpit upgrade contract removing obsolescent parts delivering new capabilities and extending the life cycle of the aircraft.
ADAPTIVE AIRBORNE ENTERPRISE (A2E): Completed detailed planning and contract actions supporting three A2E demonstrations planned for FY24 supporting COMAFSOC-priority accelerated capability development.
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY
AC-130J HIGH ENERGY LASER: Integration and Test activities with the laser, beam control system, thermal, and power systems continued through FY23 in preparation for FY24 system testing.
MC-130J AMPHIBIOUS CAPABILITY: To meet FY24 Critical Design Review, conducted hydrodynamic, ground vibration, and wind tunnel testing of float/attachment structures.
HIGH SPEED VERTICAL TAKEOFF/LANDING: Partnered with Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for a 50/50 cost share. Awarded multiple contracts for initial phase concept design phase based on source selection utilizing data received from DARPA BAA.
COLLABORATIVE AUTONOMY: Conducted incremental flight tests demonstrating increasing collaborative autonomy functionality/capabilities of Golden Horde Autonomy Software integrated on Elanus Engineering Testbed uncrewed aircraft in support of A2E.
KEY DELIVERIES IN FY23:
• 4 MC-130J CR-2 Modified aircraft
• 2 Radio Frequency Countermeasure equipped MC-130J aircraft
• 1 AC-130J cockpit simulator
• 3 AC-130J Mission Operator Pallet training devices
• 2 AC-130J aerial gunner training devices
• 27 Silent Knight Radar Systems
• 1 AC-130J aircraft
• 4 AC-130J Block 30 upgrades
• 96 Hellfire Missiles
• 570 GBU-69/B Small Glide Munitions
• 107 AGM-176A Griffin Missiles