WASHINGTON — After zeroing out procurement for the Military’s first brigade aerial jamming pod for Fiscal 12 months 2022, the service’s digital warfare neighborhood is making an attempt so as to add funding again within the subsequent funds cycle.
Within the Military’s most up-to-date funds, it eradicated its plan to spend $12 million to buy the Multifunction Digital Warfare-Air Massive system, an digital assault pod additionally able to cyber results mounted to a MQ-1C Grey Eagle. It was designed to be the primary brigade-organic airborne digital assault asset.
Regardless of chopping procurement, the Military did ask for $12 million in Fiscal 2022 for analysis and growth funds for the pod.
“We now have proposed a plan of action for consideration to Military senior leaders so as to add a restricted quantity of procurement again to the road. That’s pending,” Col. Daniel Holland, functionality supervisor for digital warfare, stated throughout a digital presentation hosted by AFCEA’s Northern Virginia chapter Jan. 13.
Holland stated they’re updating the aptitude growth doc for MFEW to “tighten up some key efficiency parameters for multidomain operations towards close to peer threats.”
Following the zeroing out for procurement {dollars}, the Military’s high acquisition official for the EW portfolio described a “show it” section for MFEW.
“We’ve received to point out that the MFEW functionality can function in a strong atmosphere and probably on platforms, not simply the Grey Eagle, however diversified platform set … and on the lookout for how MFEW will function earlier than we make a dedication on how we’ll essentially go after a functionality like MFEW sooner or later,” stated Mark Kitz, program govt officer for intelligence, digital warfare and sensors. “I believe over the following 12 months the Military goes to get some information and find out how this MFEW functionality will allow how we need to function sooner or later, and I believe that information will then inform how we go ahead with an MFEW-like functionality.”
Whereas acknowledging challenges within the budgeting cycle, Holland believes the Military is on “stable footing” for a developmental take a look at and a restricted person take a look at in 2022, for which the up to date doc might be essential to tell.
“We expect that the [capability development document] replace consists of suggestions from the operational drive, significantly the division, which is especially vital because the Military pivots from a [brigade combat team]-centric Military to a division-centric Military, since MFEW is meant to be fielded to division fight aviation brigades, the detailed efficiency enhancements that we’re going to specify within the [capability development document] replace are significantly related for this pivot,” he stated. “I’ll say that we’re continually seeking to tempo the menace and the [capability development document] does simply that.”
Regardless of the challenges, Holland stated the Military’s digital warfare neighborhood believes MFEW is a vital element of the service’s portfolio. In reality, different service officers have famous that MFEW is an integral a part of the Military’s household of digital warfare techniques.
“All of our capabilities … when utilized in tandem — [Terrestrial Layer System-Brigade Combat Team], [Terrestrial Layer System-Echelons Above Brigade], MFEW Air Massive — are all built-in to supply that EW and people cyber results,” stated Deputy Challenge Supervisor for Digital Warfare and Cyber Willie Utroska in August.
Mark Pomerleau is a reporter for C4ISRNET, protecting info warfare and our on-line world.