The Program Executive Office for Air
ASW, Assault and Special Mission Programs granted full rate
production approval for the EP-3E Joint Airborne Signals
Intelligence Architecture Modernization Common Configuration (JCC)
Program spiral one aircraft.
The Navy’s Operational Test and Evaluation Force performed
the operational evaluation (OPEVAL) of the spiral one aircraft and
reported June 26 that it was “operationally effective and
suitable.” The EP-3 team is fielding this aircraft two months
ahead of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations' targeted
initial operating capability (IOC) date, and eight months ahead of
the required IOC date.
“This is another significant increase in capability that
we are providing for the Navy’s Fleet Air Reconnaissance
Squadrons,” said Capt. Joe Rixey, NAVAIR’s Maritime
Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft Program manager (PMA-290).
The aircraft, delivered by L-3 Communications Integrated Systems
(L-3 IS) in Waco, Texas, brings ForceNet (Joint Worldwide
Intelligence Communications System, and Secret Internet Protocol
Router Network), Hostile Forces Integrated Targeting System
Multi-Platform Emitter Geolocation, Enhanced Rosetta Stone,
automated electronic surveillance measures capabilities, plus
active Link-16 transmit to the EP-3E as baseline systems.
L-3 delivered the first of four spiral one low-rate,
initial-production (LRIP) aircraft to the Navy in March. The $18
million full-rate production contract calls for six additional
aircraft to be upgraded to the spiral one configuration.
“This is an important next step in modernizing the U.S.
Navy’s EP-3 fleet and moving it toward a common technological
baseline,” said Ed Boyington, vice president of Federal
Programs and Waco, Texas, site executive for L-3 IS.
“L-3’s team is proud of its work on this aircraft, and
we know its enhanced mission capabilities will serve as great tools
for the men and women of our armed forces.”
Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 2 already took possession
of two spiral one-configured aircraft. One was the aircraft used
for test and the other was the first P-3C-to-EP-3E conversion
aircraft. VQ-1 will soon get its first spiral one aircraft, which
came out of the LRIP run that was approved last spring.
“The spiral one OPEVAL was extremely successful,”
said Cmdr. Jim Baratta, Electronic Warfare and Special Missions
department head in PMA-290. “We continue to seek out ways to
improve the EP-3’s capabilities as we work with the fleet to
meet warfighter requirements.”
The team is already working on building spiral two aircraft, and
designing spiral three aircraft. This is the EP-3E team's second
successful OPEVAL in a row. The last successful OPEVAL was for SSIP
4.0 baseline in March 2004.
“I am tremendously proud of the entire EP-3 team,
especially the many folks at NAVAIR (Naval Air Systems Command) who
work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure we get the best
possible aircraft systems in the fleet,” said Capt. John
Dziminowicz, commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10, based at
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. “JCC is an exciting new
capability for our squadrons and our fleet operational commanders.
It is the hard work and perseverance of the NAVAIR team that brings
concepts to reality so that we continue to remain effective now and
in the future.” [ANN Salutes Renee Hatcher, Program Executive
Office for Air ASW, Assault and Special Mission Programs]
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