The Air Force Begins Deployment of the First Service-Wide Network Upgrade

The Air Force’s 9th Communications Squadron is conducting a service-wide upgrade to its network infrastructure to ensure mission readiness.

The $50 million project began in January of 2019 at nine sites across the U.S., including a base in Hawaii.

The Air Force says the upgrades are aimed at providing improved communications services, making sure airmen have access to critical information and applications, and maintaining reliable connectivity no matter where they are deployed around the world.

It says the work is expected to wrap up in late 2020.

The Air Force Begins Deployment of the First Service-Wide Network Upgrade

The Air Force begins deployment of its first service-wide network upgrade.

A critical capability for the Department of Defense (DoD) was upgraded this week, May 6, 2014, with DoD’s first nationwide network upgrade to increase data capacity and improve connectivity throughout U.S. military installations worldwide.

The initial upgrades were completed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Camp Zama, Japan.

This technology upgrade builds upon the service’s previous investment in next-generation tactical networks, known as NGTN, to provide secure, reliable connections between users and their devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers.

The installation of the Advanced Information Sharing Infrastructure (AISI) and Multi-Services Distribution System (MSDS) provides the foundation for future upgrades and is a significant step forward in the modernization of the DoD information infrastructure.

The AISI is a network architecture designed to deliver ubiquitous access to network services using advanced software and networking technologies to create a single, integrated network.

It replaces existing legacy systems, enabling greater efficiency and increasing the speed of application delivery.

With the MSDS, applications such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), video conferencing, and telemetry are now able to share data across the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA).

The goal of these upgrades is to modernize the DoD’s information infrastructure to meet the demands of today’s mission.

In addition to providing greater bandwidth, the upgrades increase security while providing a standardized platform for the integration of new technologies.

According to DISA officials, the upgrades help reduce costs associated with maintaining legacy equipment and allow for faster deployment of new technologies.

“We are pleased to have brought our first nationwide network upgrade to fruition,” said Chief Master Sergeant Scott Eichenberger, director of operations for DISA. “These improvements will enhance current network capabilities and pave the way for future upgrades, ensuring we stay ahead of threats and remain agile in order to respond to evolving scenarios.”

NGTN is an initiative to deliver secure, high-capacity connectivity to end users over the Defense Information Systems Agency’s worldwide intranet.

As of today, approximately 2 million users located at more than 5,000 sites around the world have been connected to the NGTN.

The Air Force Begins Deployment of the First Service-Wide Network Upgrade

The U.S. Air Force began deploying upgrades to its service-wide network today, Jan. 18, 2019, ensuring access to high-speed data connections for all Airmen 24/7/365. The move follows the February 2018 decision by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force to retire the Air Force’s legacy satellite communications system known as AFNIX, which provides voice and data services throughout the world, including to deployed forces.

With the retirement of AFNIX, the service now plans to deploy a commercial off-the-shelf broadband replacement solution across the entire Air Force. The project will allow airmen to use the Internet at speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second, significantly faster than current capabilities.

This deployment effort is expected to cost $300 million over five years and will be funded through the Air Force’s Fiscal 2020 budget request. Air Force leaders say the upgrade will improve the quality of life for airmen, increase operational readiness and provide additional opportunities for training and education.

The service expects to complete installation of the first phase of the upgrade, called Space Based Infrared System – Next Generation (SpaceBasedNG), sometime in late spring 2019. This initial phase involves connectivity to four locations currently supporting operations around the globe. In addition, the upgraded communication systems will help the Air Force maintain control of mission-critical information and ensure personnel have continuous access to applications and secure messaging platforms.

Phase II of SpaceBasedNG will continue until 2022, adding connectivity to 20 more sites worldwide. At that time, Air Force leaders anticipate the majority of global internet traffic will flow through the service’s fiber-optic backbone.

Airmen are already using the current version of AFNIX. However, they may experience intermittent issues due to software upgrades that occurred prior to the retirement of AFNix. To minimize disruption to service, the Air Force is working closely with Air Mobility Command, which manages the space-based portion of the program, and the Defense Information Systems Agency, which operates AFNix.

For questions about the upcoming retirement of AFNIX or the planned SpaceBasedNG upgrade, contact the following individuals:

James Henningson, jhenningson@af.mil, Space-Based NG Program Office

Robert Miesner, rmiesner@af.mil, AFNIX Program Office

The Air Force Begins Deployment of the First Service-Wide Network Upgrade

The Air Force has begun deploying its first service-wide network upgrade at Wright-Patterson Air Base, Ohio.

The deployment comes after 10 months of planning, research and testing, said Maj. Gen. William A. Nelson Jr., director of operations for the 6th Communications Wing.

“Our team pulled together and successfully met our goal of completing the installation of the upgraded system,” he said. We have been working diligently on this since early 2014, and we thank our many partners for their help in making this success possible. We look forward to continuing to work with them moving forward. “

The upgrades were completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the contractor responsible for building the site, and the communications contractors who installed the equipment.

Wright-Patterson’s communication infrastructure includes two fiber-optic data links between the base’s various buildings and the Defense Information Systems Agency headquarters in Arlington, Va. To facilitate the project, the 6th Communications Wing contracted with several smaller providers to augment the existing system.

“This was a collaborative effort with numerous agencies and organizations across the Air Force,” said Lt. Col. David W. Thompson, commander of the 6th Communications Group here. “It takes a lot of teamwork and careful coordination to get something done like this, and I am proud of the entire team that came together to make this happen.”

As the first phase of the project neared completion in late 2015, the Air Force began preparing for the second phase, which would begin in 2016.

“Once the initial installation was completed, we put the necessary time and resources into ensuring the system remained operational throughout the year,” Nelson said.

A third phase of the project — upgrading the base’s legacy radio equipment — is scheduled to begin later this year. That contract will be awarded later in 2016, he added.

The Air Force Begins Deployment of the First Service-Wide Network Upgrade

The Air Force Wide Area Network (AFWAN)

The AFWAN was originally developed by the U.S. Department of Defense in 1986 to provide a network infrastructure for global communications. In 2016, the USAF began deploying the first phase of a service-wide upgrade of its legacy air-to-ground high frequency (HF) radio system. By upgrading these systems, the USAF will enable its warfighters and command posts to maintain tactical connectivity over longer distances at higher data rates while also providing improved voice capacity.

JTRS (Joint Tactical Radio System)

The JTRS program improves interoperability among Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force units using commercial off-the-shelf radios.With the use of the latest digital technology, the JTRS enables all military services to communicate while preserving their distinct operational capabilities.

The Automatic Identification System (AIS)

The AIS broadcasts information about ships, aircraft, and vehicles via the HF band to provide situational awareness and collision avoidance for mariners worldwide. The US Coast Guard operates the national AIS system in conjunction with regional coast guard authorities through the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC).

GIG stands for Global Information Grid.

In 2011, President Obama signed into law the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Reauthorization Act of 2015, which directed FEMA to establish a permanent broadband satellite constellation called the Global Information Grid (Gig). This system will revolutionize disaster management and emergency response by allowing government agencies to share real-time data—including maps, charts, weather forecasts, and traffic updates—with residents across the country during emergencies.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones or unmanned aerial systems (UASs), have become increasingly popular as affordable and reliable tools for commercial and civilian applications. The FAA’s rules governing UAV operations were established in 2012 and require operators to obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate prior to operating a drone. There are currently no restrictions regarding the size of a drone, and many of today’s commercially available models are small enough to fit inside a backpack or purse. UAVs can perform numerous tasks, including search and rescue, border patrol, surveillance, photography, and inspection of sensitive facilities. However, the commercial use of unmanned aerial vehicles remains unregulated by the FAA.

Space Fence

Space Fence is a proposed space-based radar coverage designed to detect objects that could pose dangers to the International Space Station. Its purpose is to detect debris or meteoroids that might hit the station. Developed by DARPA, the mission entails using three satellites in orbit around Earth to scan the planet. Each satellite contains four antennas, each capable of detecting space debris. These antennas help identify potential threats to the space station and relay them back to ground stations to determine whether or not they need to be moved out of harm’s way. NASA is responsible for launching the satellites, which are slated to launch sometime in 2023. Once Space Fence is completed, the United States will join Russia, China, Japan, India, Canada, Europe, and Brazil in having space-based radar coverage, thereby reducing the risk of collisions in space.

Active Denial Technology (ADT)

Active Denial Technology (ADt) is a technology similar to microwave ovens that emits electromagnetic waves to disrupt the thermal receptors of skin cells. ADT uses non-ionizing radiation to make users feel hot or cold sensations in order to deter criminal activity. Currently, several companies are developing ADT weapons to protect individuals from assaults.

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