C2 Air Operations Suite - C2 Info Services

The C2 Air Operations Suite - C2 Info Services program, under Program Element (PE) 0305015F, is a United States Air Force initiative focused on the research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) of advanced command and control (C2) capabilities. The primary objective is to develop and enhance the Command and Control, Incident Management, Emergency Response Application (C2IMERA), which enables commanders and staffs to generate and present ready forces to combatant commanders at all levels tactical, operational, and strategic. This program supports the Air Force's broader goal of improving installation-level C2, thereby increasing decision speed, operational quality, and lethality.

The Applications Development project within this program element funds the modernization and integration of C2IMERA. The system aggregates and visualizes real-time data from multiple sources into a Common Operating Picture (COP), accessible through interactive dashboards. This integration allows for improved situational awareness, streamlined daily operations, and automated reporting, reducing the need for traditional briefings, meetings, and radio communications. Objectives include direct user input incorporation, automation of daily operations, and seamless data integration across various systems.

A key goal of C2IMERA is to support Agile Combat Employment (ACE) by linking combat wings and base commands, ensuring that Air Force installations can operate effectively during peacetime competition, crisis, and conflict. The system is designed to synchronize information across large-scale exercises and operations, providing higher headquarters with aggregated, theater-wide critical information for real-time force management decisions. C2IMERA's operational concept is built around three main capability areas: C2 collaboration across the wing, enhanced wing situational awareness, and robust collaboration and reporting to higher headquarters such as Air Operations Centers and Air Force Forces.

The FY 2025 objectives for Applications Development include the full implementation of multi-tenant capabilities for global application deployment, expansion of data sets for secure and non-secure data transfer, and improved support for operations in denied or limited bandwidth environments. The program also aims to enhance interoperability with authoritative data sources, improve user interface and experience, and expand integration with the joint C2 framework. Additional efforts involve automating workflows, fusing installation and base C2 node data with major command and higher headquarters systems, and integrating with external data sharing services to provide near real-time Friendly Order-of-Battle data.

The program is managed by the Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communication & Battle Management at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center serving as the contracting authority. The acquisition strategy leverages agile software engineering methodologies and modular contracting to enable continuous delivery of software capabilities, supporting dynamic resource allocation based on evolving warfighter needs. The program is dependent on the All Domain Common Platform and aligns with other USAF investments such as Mission Planning Systems, Air Operations Center modernization, and the Advanced Battle Management System.

In FY 2026, funding and program activities for C2IMERA are transferred from PE 0305015F to a new standalone Program Element, PE 0305836F, to continue and expand efforts under a dedicated budget line. This transition reflects the maturation of the program and the need for focused investment as C2IMERA becomes a critical component of the Department of the Air Force's Battle Network architecture. The program's accomplishments and future plans emphasize the continuous evolution of C2 capabilities to meet emerging operational requirements and enhance the Air Force's ability to respond rapidly and effectively to dynamic mission environments.