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New leader for E-2/C-2 Airborne Tactical Data System Program Offce
From PMA 272 Public Affairs
TA new program manager took the helm of the E-2/C-2 Airborne Command and Control Systems Program Offce (PMA-231) during a change of command ceremony Aug. 15.
Capt. Guillermo Carrillo assumed command from Capt. Pete Arrobio in a morning event held at the Rear Adm. William A. Moffett Building here.
During the ceremony, guest speaker Rear Adm. John Lemmon, Program Executive Offcer for Tactical Aircraft Programs (PEO(T)), offered words of encouragement and praise to both Arrobio and Carrillo.
“Pete, you’ve had a great tour as the PMA-231 Program Manager and your leadership has enabled the Hawkeye/Greyhound Team to perform at a very high level.” Lemmon said. “Paco [Carrillo], we welcome you and your family into this new leadership position. You’re inheriting a team with a proud and proven track record. They’ve accomplished a lot, and I have no doubt they will continue to excel under your leadership.”
Arrobio agreed, adding that PMA-231 will continue to succeed in delivering E-2D aircraft and combat systems to meet warfghter requirements and sustain the lifecycle of the E-2D program under Carrillo’s watch.
“Over the past 1,470 days, I’ve had the honor and privilege to serve as the program manager for the E-2/C-2 Airborne Command and Control Systems Program Offce.” Arrobio said. “We had some highs and lows, and it was a testament to the character of our community when we faced those lows together to rapidly address and solve diffcult problems. I have never been prouder of any team in my 28 years of service and know you will continue to do amazing things with Capt. Carrillo.”
Carrillo, who was the Deputy Program Manager for Integration for PMA-231 before assuming command, envisions a program offce that continues to provide world-class support to the E-2 community.
“As world events continue to demand the presence of a dynamic, lethal, informed and connected platform that
Capt. Guillermo Carrillo is piped ashore during the E-2/C-2 Airborne Command and Control Systems Program Office (PMA-231) change of command ceremony Aug. 15 where he assumed command from Capt. Pete Arrobio as program manager.
can project power from the sea and land, the mission of this extraordinary aircraft is needed time and time again to win.” Carrillo said. “We are in demand now more than ever! It is an honor to lead with you every day and command this program.”
Under Arrobio’s leadership, the Hawkeye/Greyhound Team of PMA-231 embraced Reliability Control Boards to address the top readiness degraders through a rigorous process of root cause identifcation and laying out steps to solve problems permanently. This led to the highest E-2D, E-2C and C-2A readiness levels ever, and realized signifcant cost avoidance for Depot Level Repairs, while reducing the E-2D’s Cost Per Tail Per Year by 14%.
The team was also recognized earlier this year by the Secretary of the Navy as one of the Navy’s fve highest performing covered acquisition programs.
Through Naval Sustainment System-Aviation efforts, the team reached the frst objective of 28 mission capable E-2Ds fve months ahead schedule.
The Delta System Software Confguration (DSSC)-4 Integrated Product Team enhanced E-2D capabilities and accelerated timelines by engaging suppliers to expedite deliveries from the standard 12 months down to seven months.
The team also awarded the DSSC-6 non-recurring engineering contract, which includes a cockpit technical refresh, Theater Combat Identifcation hardware and software, and an upgraded E-2D Mission Computer and Display Subsystem. Additionally, with Open Mission Systems architecture, it will enable the addition of third-party applications to bring capability to the feet even faster.
Navy awards contract to update E-2D router
From PMA-231 Public Affairs
The E-2/C-2 Airborne Command & Control Systems Program Offce (PMA-231) awarded a $16 million contract to Fuse Integration on Aug. 26 for the production of Fuse CORE 4.0 virtualized network systems for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.
CORE updates the E-2D’s external networking systems to a modern, software-based network as part of the E-2D’s Delta System Software Confguration (DSSC)-5 build.
“As an advanced, small-Size, Weight, and Power –Cooling (SWaP-C) router, CORE 4.0 improves reliability and maintainability for the platform by replacing bulky and obsolete routers while simultaneously hosting applications that enhance E-2D mission capabilities,” said Shawn Thompson, PMA-231 E-2D Advanced Development Assistant Program Manager for Systems Engineering.
The CORE confguration employs the Fuse Tactical Edge Network Targeting in a Contested Long-range Environment (TENTaCLE) architecture to support network resiliency on the E-2D.
“CORE 4.0 will help the E-2D quickly adapt to evolving network architectures as well as provide a means for rapid deployment of new tactical applications,”
Thompson said. “CORE 4.0 enables an additional layer of cyber-security for the platform by hosting new frewall applications as part of the Beyond Line-ofSight (BLOS) upgrade program for the E-2D.”
As part of the continuous upgrade builds for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, DSSC 5 is designed to deliver improved sensor and data management through upgrades in security and battle management tools.
An E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, attached to the “Seahawks” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 126, lands on the flight deck of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Aug. 17.
Navy to boost fleet’s electronic attack capability with Next Generation Jammer Low Band contract award
From PMA-234 Public Affairs
The U.S. and Australian feets are one step closer to getting the next increment of the U.S. Navy’s most advanced airborne electronic attack (AEA) system. The Navy awarded L3 Technologies Inc., Communication Systems-West a $587.4 million contract Aug. 26 for the engineering and manufacturing development of the Next Generation Jammer Low Band (NGJ-LB) system.
“NGJ-LB will meet current and emerging electronic warfare threats and increase the lethality of 4th and 5th generation platforms and strike weapons,” said Rear Adm. John Lemmon, Program Executive Offcer for Tactical Aircraft Programs. “The Navy will partner with L3Harris to get this key capability into the hands of the warfghter.”
The NGJ-LB is part of a larger NGJ system that will augment and ultimately replace the legacy ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System on the EA-18G Growler aircraft. Using the latest software and Active Electronically Scanned Array technologies, NGJ will provide enhanced AEA capabilities to disrupt, deny and degrade enemy air defense and ground communication systems.
This latest increment will counter a larger capacity of adversary systems in the low-frequency electromagnetic spectrum. NGJ-LB is scheduled to reach early operational capability in 2029.
The Navy originally awarded the contract in 2020. Following multiple protests, the Navy issued an amended request for proposals in 2023. This contract supports the fnal design efforts and manufacturing of operational prototype pods and system-level prototypes for the U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). NGJ-LB is a
joint cooperative program between the U.S. Department of Defense and the Australian Department of Defence.
“The contract award is a major step for our feet as well as the RAAF,” said Capt. David Rueter, Airborne Electronic Attack Systems Program Offce (PMA-234) Program Manager. “Our partnership with Australia to develop the newest AEA jamming capability exhibits our joint commitment to ensure continued superiority over the electromagnetic spectrum.”
PMA-234 is responsible for acquiring, delivering and sustaining AEA systems including the NGJ, ALQ-99, and ALQ-231 Intrepid Tiger Pod II. The program offce provides combatant commanders with electronic warfare capabilities that enable operational mission success.
The Navy awarded a contract for the engineering and manufacturing development of the Next Generation Jammer Low Band system, which will deploy on the EA-18G Growler (pictured). It is part of a larger system that will provide enhanced AEA capabilities to disrupt, deny and degrade enemy air defense and ground communication systems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Nicholas Priest)
Navy completes install of first MQ-25 Unmanned Air Warfare Center aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77)
From PMA-268 Public Affairs
The Navy recently installed the world’s frst Unmanned Air Warfare Center (UAWC) aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), where Air Vehicle Pilots (AVPs) will control future MQ-25™ Stingray airborne operations.
This major installation was a multi-year effort coordinated across multiple ship availability periods and the ship’s deployment schedule.
The CVN-based control room, known as the UAWC, includes software and hardware systems that make up the frst fully operational and integrated Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System (UMCS) MD-5E
Ground Control Station (GCS). UMCS is the system-ofsystems required for the MQ-25 air vehicle command and control and is critical to the unmanned aircraft refueler’s operations.
“CVN 77’s UAWC lays the foundation for how the U.S. Navy will operate and control unmanned aircraft, and perhaps other unmanned vehicles, with UMCS,” said Unmanned Carrier Aviation (PMA-268) Program Manager Capt. Daniel Fucito. “These systems will initially support the MQ-25 but also future unmanned systems such as Collaborative Combat Aircraft that comprise the Air Wing of the Future.”
The GCS, developed by the Navy, includes Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works® Multi Domain Combat System (MDCX™), the power behind the GCS, along with additional supporting equipment and hardware. The hardware installed in the racks and cockpits is the baseline for the production systems currently being fabricated for installation on CVNs 70, 71, and 76 beginning in fscal year 2025.
“The support we received from all the organizations was incredible,” said Gordon Carlon, acting PMA-268 UMCS CVN installation lead. “Our program is accomplishing things on a much faster timeline than any other normal start-up program.”
PMA-268’s UMCS team worked with multiple program offces, systems commands and shipyards to integrate the
The first installation of the Unmanned Air Warfare Center (UAWC) aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), where air vehicle pilots will control future MQ-25™ Stingray airborne operations. (U.S. Navy photo)
UAWC into existing networks and the carrier architecture. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Webster Outlying Field Alteration Installation Team, AirWorks, and Lockheed Martin assisted with the coordination and physical installation of the UAWC while Naval Sea Systems Command, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, and CVN 77 organized schedules, equipment, and logistics.
Early next year, CVN 77 will lead the frst at-sea testing of the UAWC’s operational networks, building on initial network testing with a simulated GCS that took place in January aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).
“This will be the frst time the AVPs from Unmanned Carrier-Launched Multi-Role Squadron (VUQ) 10 will operate the MD-5 from an aircraft carrier. They will use the actual GCS hardware and software aboard CVN 77 to communicate with a simulated air vehicle in the lab in Pax River,” said Joe Nedeau, PMA-268 UMCS lead.
PMA-268 is the lead systems integrator for MQ-25, working closely with its two prime industry partners, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, to seamlessly integrate the MQ-25 into carrier operations, including deck handing, taxiing and launch and recovery. When operational, MQ25 will provide an aerial refueling capability to extend the range and fexibility of the carrier air wing.
Pax River marks 23rd Anniversary of 9/11
From NAS Patuxent River Public Affairs
NAS Patuxent River marked the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 attacks with a morning service at the command fagpole Wednesday, Sept. 11. The ceremony commemorated the lives lost on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001 when the United States was attacked by terrorists who hijacked four planes that were fown into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and crashed into a feld near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. In the presence of personnel, the NAS Patuxent River Chiefs’ Mess, and members of the Naval District Washington Police and Fire Departments, the command fag was raised to half mast during Morning Colors. Following Colors, Chief Selects read aloud a brief timeline of events of that day.
NAS Patuxent River Commanding Offcer Capt. Douglas Burfeld then addressed the attended guests, asking them to refect on the impact of that day, and what it has meant to the nation at large, and themselves personally as service members and military families. The events of Sept. 11, 2001 were a pivotal moment in the history of the United States and the beginning of the Global War on Terror. Pax River mourns the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day, and endeavors to never forget them.
PMA-263 completes performance evaluation for medium aerial resupply
From PMA-263 Public Affairs
The Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System program offce (PMA-263) completed the Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle – Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) performance evaluation July 8 –26 at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.
During the three-week performance evaluation, Kaman Aerospace Kargo and Leidos, Inc./Elroy Air Chaparral demonstrated prototype systems’ ability to meet Marine Corps requirements for medium aerial resupply. PMA263 and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (UX) 24 evaluators put the systems through their paces for payloads, software requirements, navigation systems, ground test, and fight test.
The MARV-EL system should be capable of transporting 300 or more pounds approximately 50 nautical miles with fully autonomous takeoff, landing, and waypoint navigation.
“Tomorrow is here,” said Col. Aaron Angell, director, Logistics Combat Element Division, who attended the demonstration. “Yesterday we had only innovative ideas about unmanned aerial delivery systems, and today they are real. We are excited to lead this leap forward in tactical distribution.”
The acquisition path to initiate MARV-EL began in February 2022 when a capability document for medium autonomous aerial delivery was signed by the Director, Capabilities Development Directorate. PMA263 requested white paper submissions from vendors and received and evaluated 26 proposals.
Kaman Aerospace and Leidos, Inc., each received an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) in January 2023 to develop and deliver one prototype system per vendor to demonstrate air vehicle capability at the end of the 18-month period of performance.
The program offce’s next step is to complete the analysis of the data collected during Yuma fight
Marines get an up-close look at the two Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle – Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) systems under evaluation and watched flight demonstrations at Yuma Proving Ground during designated observation days in July 2024. (U.S. Navy photo)
testing, then select a vendor to enter a formal rapid prototyping Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) program to continue development and conduct formal developmental testing.
“PMA-263 is dedicated to deploying this much needed unmanned logistics capability in support of
Marine Corps Force Design objectives,” said Tom Matthews, PMA-263 deputy program manager. “I applaud the PMA-263 team for executing a plan that enabled competition, rapid prototyping, and fight test demonstrations within a two-year time frame. Great work by the entire extended team.”
Public Works Service Desk Number Change
Pax River’s Public Works service desk phone number and email will change beginning Sept. 2, 2024. The new phone number and email are 1-855-4-NAVFAC (1–855 –462–8322 ) and navfac_se_rcc.fct@us.navy.mil.
Public Works Emergencies can be called, or emailed in by anyone. Routine and urgent issues can only be called or emailed in by authorized customers.
Pax River Search and Rescue Trains with EOD
From NAS Patuxent River Public Affairs
Naval Air Station Patuxent River Search and Rescue squadron “SAR Dogs” conducted overland and overwater hoist training with members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 12 (EODMU 12) Detachment Dahlgren Aug. 1 in a joint training exercise at the Air Station.
The helicopter mobility exercises helped the two organizations hone their joint skills in inserting and recovering EOD personnel from remote hard to access locations.
“Training events like this help to refne procedures and enable emergency response personnel such as EOD technicians to respond to explosive hazards anywhere at anytime,” said Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Zachary Dorfman, who participated in the training.
Taking off from NAS Patuxent River’s fightline, the EOD technicians were transported via SAR helicopters to Pax River’s north shoreline, where they were lowered via hoist to the ground with a SAR DOG crewmember. After a brief period, the helicopter returned and the technicians were attached to the
hoist by the crewmember and raised into the aircraft, simulating the insertion and extraction of personnel into hard to access terrain.
Pax River has worked with EODMU 12 operationally in the past, relying on the explosives specialists whenever ordnance or otherwise volatile material needs to be detonated in a safe location on base. These instances highlighted a desire by both units for joint training in the event the EOD technicians needed to access an area that would otherwise be diffcult to reach by foot.
“The NAS Patuxent River Search and Rescue unit trains to deploy EOD personnel overland and overwater in order to render safe munitions used during test and evaluation that could pose a danger to the local area,” said Chief Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) Kyle Kurzendoerfer. “This training simulates the deployment of EOD personnel when conducting the neutralization of Unexploded Ordnance. Communication and coordination is vital in order to safely deploy and recover the bomb technicians in close proximity to the unexploded ordnance.”
The two units plan for more training exercises together in the future.
Pax River Air Operations Offcer Promoted to Commander
NAS Patuxent River congratulates acting Installation Air Operations Offcer Stephen Porter on his promotion to Commander.
Porter was joined by his wife and children who pinned his new rank on in the presence of colleagues and crew at the NAS Patuxent River Air Operations Building.
American Forces Travel Celebrates Five Years with Giveaways, Sweepstakes for Service Members
From American Forces Travel
American Forces Travel, the Department of Defense’s offcial leisure travel site, is celebrating fve years of providing discounted travel services exclusively to military families, veterans, DoD civilians and other eligible patrons by giving away two digital Navy Exchange gift cards worth $500 each, two cruise vouchers worth $500 each, a $500 voucher toward event tickets, and a Bahamas vacation giveaway worth $5,000.
“American Forces Travel has proven to be a very benefcial resource for the military and government community over the last fve years,” said Ansley Heninger, leisure travel program analyst at Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC). “It’s been exciting to see the program grow and continue to provide new affordable opportunities for service members and their families to travel and get the valuable time away that they deserve.”
From Sept. 16, 2024 – Dec. 31, 2024, American Forces Travel will begin a series of giveaways on its social media channels: Facebook.com/ AFTMWR and Instagram @American_Forces_ Travel.
Follow the offcial American Forces Travel social media channels above starting Sept. 16 to learn and access the submission links for each giveaway. Entrants must be eligible members of American Forces Travel, which includes all active duty and retired military; members of the Reserve components, National Guard, and
Coast Guard Auxiliary Active Duty; sponsored family members; DoD and Coast Guard civilian employees; as well as employees at select other government agencies.
Full details on eligibility can be at https://auth. americanforcestravel.com/ under the “Learn Who is Eligible” link. Other terms and conditions will be listed on the submission link for each week’s giveaway.
American Forces Travel was created to be a one-stop travel booking site with deals for hotels, fights, rental cars, packages, cruises and event tickets exclusively for service members, their families, veterans and DoD civilian employees. Since its inception in 2019, the platform has saved eligible patrons over $23 million on leisure travel bookings and, because each booking supports military MWR programs, American Forces Travel has contributed over $10 million to quality of life programs for all service branches.
Eligible patrons can access the platform’s exclusive offers by creating an account at AmericanForcesTravel.com and planning their next trip. Members receive special rates on a range of travel services, 24/7 customer service, no booking fees, real reviews from guests and a best price guarantee.
For more information, visit AmericanForcesTravel.com or follow them on social media at Facebook.com/AFTMWR and Instagram @American_Forces_Travel.
Final VH-92A presidential helicopter delivered
From PMA-274 Public Affairs
Presidential Helicopters Program Offce (PMA-274) and the Marine Corps accepted delivery of the fnal VH-92A helicopter, built by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, in August. The achievement signifes the completion of the program of record to deliver 23 new presidential helicopters in support of the executive lift mission.
The total inventory of 23 VH-92A aircraft will consist of 21 operational and two test aircraft. This quantity allows for aircraft to be ready to support the executive lift mission, undergo various levels of maintenance, lifecycle upgrades, and provide assets for pilot/ aircrew training.
“This exceptional team has successfully completed the program of record for the VH-92A within budget and schedule,” said Brigadier General David Walsh, program executive offcer for air anti-submarine warfare, assault, and special mission programs.
“This helicopter not only embodies the hard work and dedication of those responsible for building and delivering the aircraft, but it will remain a recognizable patriotic asset known around the globe for safety, security, and reliability.”
In May 2014, PMA-274, with approval from the Navy, awarded Sikorsky a contract to build the next presidential helicopter, the VH-92A, a derivative of the commercial S-92.
The new presidential helicopter was built to increase
performance and payload over the VH-3D and VH60N. It will provide enhanced crew coordination systems and communications capabilities in addition to improving availability and maintainability.
The Marine Corps works with the White House Military Offce, PMA-274, and Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) to ensure the conditions are set for a successful transition from the current in-service VH3D and VH-60N aircraft to the VH-92A. Currently there are 10 VH-3D’s, six VH-60N’s, and 9 VH-92A’s that support various missions assigned to HMX-1.
“Between the program staff and artisans within Sikorsky and PMA-274, we have the best and brightest. These great American’s are experts at their craft and put their all into this platform,” said Colonel Alex Ramthun, PMA-274 program manager. “Not only have we delivered increased performance and reduced maintenance costs and time over the current feet of presidential helicopters, but we have also delivered the next phase of Marine One helicopters. Knowing those who step aboard any of the 21 VH-92A will have absolute top-notch execution, maintenance, and service for the life of the aircraft makes me proud to be part of this amazing team.”
The VH-92A Patriot is in the midst of a phased plan to ensure a smooth, safe, and timely transition from the legacy VH-3D and VH-60N aircraft.
PMA-274 expeditiously provides safe, ready, highperforming, and affordable aircraft, capabilities, and support to HMX-1
Presidential Helicopters Program Office and the Marine Corps accepted delivery of the final VH-92A Patriot helicopter in August for a total inventory of 23 aircraft. Photo by Owen Hoffmann.
