Team Eglin supports Army Apache testing

  • Published
  • 46th Test Squadron & U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  "Can you hear me now?"

Similar to popular cell phone advertisements, Team Eglin's engineers are demonstrating how they provide a connection between different contacts to create a joint network.

This network environment being created tests the AH-64E Apache, the Army's first airborne platform equipped with the Link 16 communications system. Testing began here Aug. 4.

The overall goal of the testing is to assess the helicopter's Block 3 capability to include recent upgrades of an air-to-air-ground video relay, embedded diagnostics, external fuel tank system and the newly integrated Link 16.

"Each sub-system contributes to the overall mission success of the Apache team through improved joint communications, increased on-station time and situational awareness respectively," said Richard West, Aviation Test Directorate, Fort Hood Texas.

To accomplish this goal, the 96th Operations Group and the 96th Range Group provide support for this three-week test.

The 46th Test Squadron provides a network capability environment for the Link 16 system during each test. The Joint Link 16 environment is a multi-node, secure, high-bandwidth network that supports the sharing of location, weapons data, surveillance data and text and voice communications among the connected users.

"To put it simply, it's a wireless network in the sky for aircraft that comes with a high level of security," said 1st Lt. Seth Nickolas, a Datalinks test engineer with the 46th TS.

The network delivers linked connectivity for the Apache and all of the aircraft participating in the various testing scenarios including the F-15E and F-16 from the 40th Flight Test Squadron and an E-8 Joint Stars. This connection allows the Apache, the other aircraft and ground command and control systems to directly communicate with each other against specific simulated threats.

The 96th Range Support Squadron provides those "threats" in the form of military vehicles and equipment throughout the range that are used as mobile targets. These include tanks, armored personnel carriers, boats, artillery and other vehicles.

"Eglin maintains a rich and diverse mobile target which meets the Army's testing," said West.

Each target has a Time Space Position Information sensor. The Datalinks engineers take the data from those sensors and convert it to the Link 16 signatures used by the AH-64.

"The mission players are outfitted with sensors that allow them to see active targets, participants, who is engaged and who is dead to make it more realistic," said Nickolas.

To get the joint forces connected, the 46 TS builds the Link 16 network using specialized files loaded into each of the Link 16 radios. The radios are inside the participating test aircraft and on the ground.

"The load essentially programs the radio to transmit and receive at certain times. These files are all built to communicate together," said Nickolas.

The 46th TS's Data Links Test Facility provides the Link 16 environment and has instrumentation that records the communications transmitted on the network. Data obtained through the data links provides information to Army evaluators relative to the Apache's Link-16 communication within the network.

"The Eglin (data links) personnel and instrumentation decrease costs to the Army by using existing Department of Defense test range infrastructure," said West. "Additionally, Eglin personnel boast a rich expertise in Link-16 message traffic data collection and analysis."

The Army brings more than 100 Soldiers and three helicopters to participate in the approximately 40 large-scale day and night test missions. The variety of missions include strikes on surface to air missile sites, protecting against minelaying and insurgent fast boats, area recon, search and destroy and convoy defense.

Follow-on testing of the AH-64E will continue as new configurations and capabilities are added through 2017.

If those assessments require network and communication testing, the USAOTC could call on the 46th TS and the 96th Test Wing for support again in the near future.

"The Apache follow-on testing efforts between the Air Force and USAOTC have been a resounding success due to the outstanding capabilities Team Eglin brought to bear throughout air, ground, littoral, and cyberspace domains," said Maj. Greg Grimes, the 46th TS commander.