E-10A: She’s Dead, Jim
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Final settling up results in a government credit; Program details and history expanded. (Oct 22/10)
The future E-10A MC2 (Multi-sensor Command & Control) program was conceived as a fusion of Northrop Grumman’s advanced Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) Wide-Area Surveillance (WAS) radar and Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2) mission suite into a modified passenger jet (likely a 767), creating a successor to both the E-3 AWACS air surveillance and E-8 JSTARS ground surveillance and SIGINT (signals intelligence) /communications relay planes. This multi-duty approach provides flexibility, but also invites potential shortages and overuse unless the system can be procured in sufficient numbers or supplemented with less expensive options (see “Brittle Swords: Low-Density, High-Demand Assets” [PDF] for a deeper discussion).
The entire program could easily have been worth $10 billion. On February 23/07, however, the firm received notice from the U.S. Air Force that the E-10A MC2 Weapon System Integration (WSI) program was being formally ended. So, what now for the E-10’s technology? And why is this still relevant in 2010?
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The E-10A has been on thin ice for some time, and no funding was included for it in the FY 2008 budget request. In March 2007, Northrop Grumman admitted that planning had begun to wind up the program, following an initial design review held the week of February 12-16/07. The USAF’s shut-down of the program rendered that somewhat moot. Subsequent closeout of any critical action items was scheduled to be complete by the end of May 2007.
Still, all is not lost.
When the E-10 was canceled, the MP-RTIP AESA radar was already slated to equip future Block 40 version of the RQ-4B Global Hawks, and there were thoughts that it may also equip future E-8 J-STARS upgrades or successors. MP-RTIP testing took place on Rutan’s unusual-looking Proteus.
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Since then, progress has been made toward getting the MP-RTIP WAS radar deployed on future E-8 JSTARS upgrades. It was also slated for NATO’s Airbus A321-based AGS ground surveillance system, before that program was cut to just 5 MP-RTIP equipped RQ-4B Global Hawk 40 UAVs.
The BMC2 subsystem, which also received substantial investments, will be harder to transfer. Integrating it into E-8 or E-3 upgrades is likely to be challenging, as it was designed in the expectation of a new set of systems and many of them won’t be available unless the older aircraft receive a truly major overhaul encompassing many of their expensive electronics, or BMC2 is redesigned to accommodate them.
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Oct 22/10: The USAF finalizes the E-10A’s termination for convenience with Boeing for -$64,652,791. Not a typo. The modification will result in a credit to the government of $30,052,791. The ESC/HBGK at Hanscom Air Force Base, MA handled this contract finalization (F33657-03-C-2051).
June 1/07: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp.’s Integrated Systems Sector, Airborne Ground Surveillance and Battle Management Systems in Melbourne, FL receives a $12.2 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification to the E-10’s Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2) system that detects, classifies, characterizes and reports cruise missiles and surface targets to the joint forces.
The subject ECP (Engineering Change Proposal) 007 modification is for a seamless continuation of Pre-SDD program to complete limited risk reduction activities in the areas of Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2) Mission Execution, and BMC2 Kill Chain, without introducing new requirements. Specifically, it covers the BMC2 and Kill Chain Risk Reduction of the Weapon System Integration Program efforts, during the Technology Development Phase I. The period of performance will be extended by an additional 12 months so the company can do this work, ending in May 2008.
At this time, $6.1 million has been committed by the USAF’s Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom AFB, MA (F19628-03-C-0014/ P00056 (ECP 007)).
Feb 23/07: Northrop Grumman receives formal notice from the U.S. Air Force that the E-10A MC2 Weapon System Integration (WSI) program was being formally ended. Defense Daily | New York Times.
Feb 12-16/07: E-10A MC2 Initial Design Review held.
Initial Design Reviews (IDR) are most frequently conducted in programs that feature prototypes. The IDR is usually followed by a Final Design Review (FDR) of working prototype(s), before the program goes on to Milestone B approval. That milestone is the gateway to a full system design and development phase that aims to produce a final design, full working systems, manufacturing plans, performance testing, flight tests in the case of aircraft, etc. See “Specifying Initial Design Review (IDR) and Final Design Review (FDR) Criteria” for more background regarding this stage.
Jan 16/07: The end of E-10 development begins. Boeing and Raytheon were Northrop Grumman’s partners on the E-10A WSI contract, which was managed by Air Force Material Command’s Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, MA. Flight International.
Feb 13/06: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp.’s Integrated Systems Sector, Airborne Ground Surveillance and Battle Management Systems in Melbourne, FL receives a $280 million cost plus award fee contract. It covers the E-10A’s Technology Development Program’s Pre-System Development and Demonstration (Pre-SDD) effort through to the program’s Initial Design Review (IDR), running to May 2007. At this time $13 million has been committed by the USAF’s Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom AFB, MA (F19628-03-C-0014 ECP 005).
In an unusual delay, the contract is issued Dec 23/05, but not announced by the Pentagon until this day. See also NGC.
Sept 13/04: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp.’s Integrated Systems Sector, Airborne Ground Surveillance and Battle Management Systems in Melbourne, FL receives a $170.5 million cost plus award fee contract modification. It extends the E-10A’s Pre-System Development and Demonstration phase. At this time no funds have been committed yet, and work will be complete by October 2005. The USAF’s Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom AFB, MA manages the contract (F19628-03-C-0014/P00014).
Sept 10/04: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp.’s Integrated Systems Sector, Airborne Ground Surveillance and Battle Management Systems in Melbourne, FL receives a “$50,000,000 or above” cost plus award fee contract.
This action covers the period of performance extension to the pre-system development and demonstration phase of this program. At this time no funds have been committed yet, and work will be complete by 2010. The USAF’s Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom AFB, MA manages the contract (F19628-03-C-0014).
Feb 12/04: The USAF and Northrop Grumman’s team successfully complete the E-10A Multi-Sensor Command and Control Aircraft (MC2A) program’s systems requirements review (SRR). NGC.
Aug 15/03: Boeing Co. in Seattle, WA receives a $126 million firm-fixed-price unfinalized contract, to buy 1 Boeing 767-400ER testbed aircraft for the E-10A program. At this time, $20 million has been committed, and further funds will be obligated as individual delivery orders are issued. Solicitation began April 2003, negotiations were complete in August 2003, and work will be complete by July 2007. The Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH manages this contract (F33657-03-C-2051).
May 14/03: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp.’s Integrated Systems Sector, Airborne Ground Surveillance and Battle Management Systems in Melbourne, FL receives a $215 million cost-plus-award-fee contract to provide for the E-10A, the next generation wide area surveillance platform designed to provide advanced integrated ground and air surveillance and targeting capabilities.
This contract covers the weapons system integration portion of the pre-system development and demonstration phase. Funds will be obligated as individual delivery orders are issued. Solicitations began August 2002, negotiations were complete May 2003, and work will be complete in September 2004. The USAF’s Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom AFB, MA manages the contract (F19628-03-C-0014).
