CEC Combined Fleet Defense Program: FY 2006

CEC Concept
(click to enlarge)

Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) is the true “secret weapon” of AEGIS fleet defense. On the one hand, this JHU/APL brainchild consists only of a data distribution system, including antenna, and the cooperative engagement processor. Yet those simple components add up to something incredibly powerful, by bringing radar, sensor and tracking data from a number of widely separated platforms together in one big picture. The resulting sensor fusion significantly improves weapons tracking consistency and continuity; expands detection ranges, thus increasing reaction time; and enables entirely new engagement strategies against threats. Indeed, CEC has applications that reach beyond the sea to ground-based systems, blimps, and even successful ballistic missile defense.

F-22 Squadron Shot Down by the International Date Line

F-22A, back to Hickam…

Aircraft software can be serious business. DID’s F-22A Raptor FOCUS Article mentioned recent flight software problems that delayed the aircraft’s first foreign deployment from Hickam AFB in Hawaii to Kadena AFB, Japan.

What we didn’t mention at the time is how serious the problem was, and how dependent on computers modern aircraft – including military aircraft – have become. What follows are relevant excerpts from a CNN transcript on February 24, 2007 that covered a number of unrelated issues. We’ve cut that out, and left only the F-22 related section of the transcript…

A Restructuring at Lockheed

Defense giant Lockheed Martin is undertaking some corporate shifts, as detailed in this release which also notes associated personnel moves. Short version?

Integrated Systems & Solutions (IS&S) and Information Technology and Global Services (IT&GS) are being merged into Information Systems & Global Services (IS&GS), and will also absorb Transportation and Security Solutions. A couple of groups, including Aircraft & Logistics, are moving under other divisions, while Advanced Concepts Organization (a.k.a. Lockheed’s famed “Skunk Works”) now reports directly to the CTO.