(U) Airborne Integrated Terminal (AIT)

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)

Overview: (U)
(U)  Air Force UHF DAMA SATCOM Terminals provide the Air Force with an airborne DAMA capability for the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), Air Combat Command (ACC), and Air Mobility Command (AMC).  The AIT provides an integrated solution for all DAMA requirements.

Description: (U)
(U)  The AIT Group (AITG) will provide USAF and other DoD users with Half Duplex (HDX) SATCOM and Line Of Sight (LOS) communications for airborne applications in the UHF band from 225.0 megahertz (MHz) to 399.995 MHz.  The AITG SATCOM modes will provide 5-kilohertz (kHz) and 25-kHz non-DAMA operation in accordance with MIL-STD-188-181, 5-kHz Demand Assigned Multiple Access (DAMA) and Demand Assigned Single Access (DASA) operation in accordance with  MIL-STD-188-182, and 25-kHz DAMA and DASA operation in accordance with MIL-STD-188-183.  The AITG will provide the following additional communication modes:  Single Channel (SC) voice and data communications on VHF, Air Traffic Control (ATC) VHF amplitude modulated (AM) voice with 25 kHz and 8.33 kHz channel spacing.  Publication ED-23B of the European Organization for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE) describes and provides performance specifications for the VHF 8.33-kHz channel separation environment.

(U)  AMC's UHF SATCOM requirements include positive command and control of special missions, personnel, and equipment that are transported by the AMC cargo fleet.  ACC's UHF SATCOM requirements are for a variety of platforms in support of multiple missions; their primary missions include command and control, communications, and intelligence.

(U)  The AITG will provide both narrowband (2.4 kilobits/second (kbps)) and wideband (16 kbps) voice processing, and will accept digital data Input/Output (I/O) at data rates between 75 bits/second (bps) and 19.2 kbps.  Both data and voice encryption/decryption will be provided by the terminal, using NSA-approved devices that are cryptographically and functionally compatible with the TSEC/KG-84A, TSEC/KYV-5 (Advanced Narrowband Digital Voice Terminal [ANDVT]), and TSEC/KY-58 (VINSON). Crypto bypass will be available for transmission of unencrypted voice and data.

(U)  AITG-compatible baseband I/O devices will include a laptop PC, AN/PSC-2, and platform Intercommunication Set (ICS). The AITG will interoperate with other UHF DAMA SATCOM terminals, which have been certified by the Joint Interoperability Test Center (JITC), and with other radios from the UHF LOS and VHF LOS families. The AITG will interoperate with the above radios when they interface to any of the following baseband I/O devices: VINSON, ANDVT family, and KG-84 cryptographic equipment.

User Impact: (U)
(U)  Interoperable UHF DAMA SATCOM on 5 kHz and 25 kHz unprocessed satellite channels is a JCS requirement per CJSCI 6251-01 dated 31 Jul 96, MCM-89-94 dated 28 Jul 94, MCM-105-94 dated 31 Aug 94, and MJCS-36-89 dated 28 Feb 89.  Failure to equip our forces with UHF DAMA SATCOM could lead to denial of UHF SATCOM channel access.  Beyond Line Of Sight, e.g., SATCOM, communications are of increasing importance as DoD forces continue to modernize and perform missions that previous communication systems can no longer adequately support.

Programmatics: (U)
(U) Programmed.
	(U) IOC: 01/1999 (2QFY1999).
		(U)  PE #33606F.
(U)  Scheduled Deployment:  Aircraft Type - ACC (11), AMC (2), Total terminals (322); Installation period:  FY 99 - FY 03.

Related Initiatives: (U)
(U) Adv Narrowband Dig Voice Termnl, AFSATCOM, UHF Follow-on (UFO), UHF Next Generation Satellite

Related Requirements: (U)
(U) None.

Related Categories: (U)
(U) UHF Ground Segment Terminals

Road Map Placements: (U)
(U) MILSATCOM.

Lead Office: (U)
(U) Air Force.

Date of Information: (U)
20 July 1998

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)