Air Traffic Control, Approach, and Landing System (ATCALS)

The Air Traffic Control Approach, and Landing System (ATCALS) program element, PE 0305114F, falls under the Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) Budget Activity 7: Operational Systems Development. The specific goals and objectives of this program include funding research, development, and management of air traffic control communications, surveillance, automation, positioning, and precision approach and landing systems to support the Air Force's worldwide flying mission. The program aims to improve the integration, defense, and reconstitution of surveillance and decision systems despite adversary interference or deception. It also focuses on modernizing airfield operations to support Agile Combat Employment (ACE) adaptive basing and agile basing concepts of operation. Additionally, the program pursues opportunities in the organization, training, and equipping of air traffic control-associated career fields and civil ATCALS technologies with military utility.

The ATCALS program element allocates funds for various projects aimed at identifying capability gaps and mitigating technologies in aircraft launch and recovery for both fixed and expeditionary operations. These efforts are focused on enhancing safety, security, efficiency, and affordability of global flight operations for Department of Defense (DoD) aircraft. The program specifically supports the development of new air traffic control technologies such as the Man-Portable TACAN Electronically Scanned Antenna (MP-TACAN ESA) and high-power beacon transponder. Additionally, it aims to coordinate and field fixed base and deployable ground system upgrades concurrently with related manned and unmanned aircraft avionics capabilities that may be required. The program also includes efforts to develop lightweight, multi-function expeditionary systems technology to ensure enduring, resilient, efficient, and safe air operations.