Aviation Survivability

The PE 0603216N: Aviation Survivability program is a Navy Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) effort focused on enhancing the survivability of both aircrew and aviation platforms. Its overarching goal is to counter emerging threats from next-generation operational weapons systems and to improve combat effectiveness in future operational scenarios. This program is funded under the Advanced Component Development & Prototypes (ACD&P) budget activity, which supports the evaluation of integrated technologies, representative models, and prototype systems in realistic operating environments. The program is structured into several distinct projects, each targeting specific aspects of aviation survivability, vulnerability reduction, safety, and fire suppression.

The largest line item within the program focuses on developing, demonstrating, prototyping, and validating technologies that enhance warfighter performance, protection, injury prevention, and mission effectiveness. This includes efforts in aircrew life support equipment, physiological monitoring, hearing protection and communication intelligibility, advanced helmet vision systems, laser eye protection, escape and crashworthy systems, restraint systems, survival and evasion tools, and cockpit design. The project leverages digital human modeling and biomedical-based risk assessment tools and coordinates with the Naval Medical Research Unit - Dayton (NAMRU-D) to address hypoxia, anthropometry, neck/back pain, and other human factors. Recent and planned advancements include in-ear active noise reduction hearing protection, wide field-of-view high-resolution digital goggles, laser event recorders, and dielectric coatings for vision protection.

Another project focuses on improving the survivability of Navy and Marine Corps aircraft through hardware and software solutions. The project addresses both susceptibility (likelihood of being hit) and vulnerability (probability of kill if hit) by supporting signature reduction, subsystem/component hardening, and development of integrated Aviation Survivability Equipment (iASE) architectures for simulation and training. It provides engineering-level modeling and simulation capabilities to assess and inform electronic warfare strategies, and expands high-fidelity Hardware-In-The-Loop (HITL) capabilities for evaluating electronic warfare concepts against future threats. The project also supports continual updates to threat assessments and modeling tools, enabling a model-based systems engineering approach to survivability.

A separate project is dedicated to transitioning innovative munitions safety technologies to Navy and Marine Corps air weapons. The program aims to ensure compliance with directives requiring all shipboard munitions to be insensitive to unplanned stimuli such as thermal, impact, and shock events. Key objectives include the development of insensitive munitions (IM) solutions for air-launched weapons, electronic safe-arm fuzes, advanced warhead designs, and blast-mitigating materials. The project also advances modeling and simulation of explosive behavior, remote RF sensor capabilities for pre-ignition event detection, and shock/blast barrier protection technologies. System-level testing and analysis are conducted to verify engineering solutions and support incremental improvements or block upgrades to existing munitions.

Another project focuses on developing improved fire-fighting systems and protective measures for aircraft-related fires on aircraft carriers. The objectives include assessment of fire properties, definition of fire threats, improvements to fire-fighting agents and delivery systems, and evaluation of fire detection and suppression system performance. The project also supports fire-fighter training improvements, testing of personal protective equipment, and development of procedures for extinguishing fires involving composite materials, weapons, and fuels. Additional efforts include the evaluation of equipment for canopy breaching, weapons cooling, and safe management of liquid oxygen leaks.

Across all projects, the PE 0603216N: Aviation Survivability program emphasizes collaboration with research units, industry partners, and acquisition communities to ensure technology maturation and transition to operational use. Acquisition strategies vary by project, with a mix of Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF), Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ), and Firm Fixed Price contracts, as well as direct use of government testing facilities and civilian labor. The program is responsive to evolving threats and fleet requirements, with funding adjustments reflecting efficiency initiatives and workforce optimization in alignment with executive orders.