Boeing's Distributed Targeting System provides enhanced situational awareness for Super Hornet aircrews

News Report

As announced in a recent press release, Boeing has started production of the new Distributed Targeting System (DTS) for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter. DTS provides enhanced targeting capability for the Super Hornet. It is part of the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18E/F Network Centric Warfare Upgrades program and the F/A-18E/F Flight Plan, which will ensure that the Super Hornet remains ahead of emerging threats in coming decades.

The U.S. Navy granted approval for Low Rate Initial Production of DTS following successful completion of initial operational assessment flight testing at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif., and Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., between September 2010 and March 2011. Air Test and Evaluation Squadrons VX-31 and VX-23 conducted the tests. DTS is on schedule to achieve Initial Operational Capability in January 2013.

The Technology

Boeing's Distributed Targeting System uses onboard hardware and software processing to produce precise targeting solutions for Super Hornet aircrews.

The DTS upgrade adds an image-exploitation processor and mass memory unit. The system compares synthetic-aperture radar maps from the aircraft’s active-array radar with stored geo-registered SAR maps and generates precise target coordinates for GPS-guided weapons. DTS enhances Super Hornet aircrews’ situational awareness when engaging air-to-ground targets.

Comments

“Distributed Targeting will continue to expand the Super Hornet’s already advanced multirole capability for the warfighter,” said Kory Mathews, F/A-18 and EA-18 Programs vice president for Boeing after the first tests of the system in 2010. “Distributed Targeting is a powerful tool that will provide Super Hornet aircrews with highly precise targeting capability when identifying and engaging ground target sets. This is another phase of our evolutionary approach to continuous capability enhancement for the Navy’s combat-proven Super Hornet.”

“Distributed targeting is going to be a real game-changer for Super Hornet aircrews,” said Kevin Fogarty, Boeing F/A-18 and EA-18G Mission Systems director. “DTS increases pilot and aircrew situational awareness and precision targeting when engaging air-to-ground targets, in part by using geo-registration technology.”.

The Context

The U.S. Navy F/A-18 E and F Super Hornet maritime strike attack aircraft, manufactured by Boeing, flew for the first time on November 29, 1995. In May 2009, Boeing received a contract worth $48.9m for the development of Distributed Targeting System for the Super Hornet aircraft.

References: Boeing (1,2), AirForce Technology (3)

Chinese JTAC vs. ROVER

News Report

A curious entry appeared on DefenseTech, reporting that a chinese military website is showing a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) that appears as a Chinese version of the NATO ROVER targeting system.

"Who knows how well the Chinese system works or how good China is at close air support. Still, its just another sign that the U.S. military doesn’t have a lock down on the advanced ISR and comms gear that is fast becoming the hallmark of 21st century weapons technology"

The System (ROVER)

ROVER is the L-3's Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver, which receives camera images from nearby aircraft and UAVs, then integrates them with other positioning and targeting software. The initial ROVER system, ROVER I, was developed in 2002 to allow ground forces to view video feeds from Predator UAVs or AC-130 gunships. The interface was so large it was carried in a HMMWV, but it avoided the long delay of having to call a distant UAV controller and ask what the aircraft was seeing.

ROVER is currently available in different configurations:

• ROVER 4 is a laptop-based receiver terminal. It supports Ku-band digital, C-band digital, C-band analog, S-band analog and L-band analog signals.
• ROVER 5 and 5i (aka mROVER) are handheld computers and software-defined radios that can also transmit target data, support encryption up to Type 1, and have some compatibility with key datalink protocols like CDL. It is publicly stated to work with Predator, Shadow and Dragon Eye UAVs, and Northrop Grumman’s LITENING surveillance and targeting pod.
• ROVER 6 can be mounted in a vehicle or carried. It adds Raven and emerging CDL waveforms to increase its interoperability with some aircraft, and virtually all UAVs and targeting pods. ROVER 6 is able to receive in 2 different channels, in 1-2 different frequency bands, from a single data source to improve redundancy and reception. 

References: DefenseTech (1), TP.chinamil (2), DefenseIndustryDaily (3), L-3 (4)