Comms, Nav Surveillance

Comms, Nav Surveillance is the Army's aircraft-modification budget line for improving aviation communications, navigation, and situational awareness. It is funded through Aircraft Procurement, Army, Budget Activity 02 and Budget Sub Activity 10, both designated for Modification of Aircraft. The line covers new or improved operational capabilities across listed UH/HH/MH-60, CH/MH-47, AH-64, light utility helicopter, and unmanned aircraft systems. Its financial plan identifies nine modification items; the FY 2027 request is concentrated on Aviation Tactical Communication Systems (ATCS) Multi-mode Aviation Radio Set (MARS).

ATCS supports the Army's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) and Unified Network modernization priorities by procuring, integrating, and fielding aircraft A-Kits and equipment B-Kits. These modifications address Army Aviation command-and-control (C2) requirements under both C2 Fix and Next Generation C2. The MARS ARC-231A software-defined radio uses crypto-modernized algorithms and secure waveforms to communicate with Department of War and multinational forces. As the primary air traffic control communications radio, it also supports aircrew and passenger safety through reliable secure air-to-air and air-to-ground communications.

Aviation Tactical Comm Systems (ATCS) MARS receives the FY 2027 funding for ARC-231A procurement, aircraft modification requirements, fielding, essential system test and evaluation, and software integration for crypto-modernization. Within C2 Fix, the radio helps integrate and deconflict aircraft operations and execute airspace clearances, including for Transformation in Contact initiatives. The increase from FY 2026 to FY 2027 supports hardware and software integration, including certification and qualification testing. The plan also includes systems engineering, training and data, software change products, and nonrecurring engineering changes.

The MARS acquisition plan identifies BAE Systems facilities in Largo, Florida, and Fort Wayne, Indiana, and implements the modification through equipment swaps. It schedules a March 2027 contract date and February 2028 delivery date for the FY 2027 effort, a ten-shipset ARC-231A B-Kit procurement in FY 2027, and further annual procurement through FY 2031. The line distributes FY 2027 resources among the Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve. The budget justification also identifies the item as necessary for active and reserve component homeland defense, domestic emergency response, and military support to civil authorities.

Aviation Tactical Comm Systems (ATCS) Alt Comms records the earlier alternative-communications effort separately from MARS. Its prior-year plan covered aircraft A-Kits, ARC-231 and ARC201D B-Kit shipsets, aircraft integration, testing, fielding, training, and support equipment. Those investments developed and installed aviation communications capability before the current ARC-231A-focused request. The exhibit identifies modification work orders as the installation method and places this item's procurement in prior years.

Blue Force Tracking-Aviation (BFT-A) is the installation item associated with aviation blue-force tracking, with prior-year A-Kits, spares, engineering, fielding, training, hardware, and contractor-performed modification work orders. The program description explains that Blue Force Tracking-2 (BFT-2) supports C2 Fix at brigade level and below through the Integrated Tactical Network. It provides FVL air-to-ground and air-to-air messaging, aircraft position information for integrating unmanned crew vehicles and air-launched effects, and a near-real-time beyond-line-of-sight Blue/Red situational-awareness picture for commanders. These functions depend on the Unified Network's resilient, secure access to information.

DGNS (AN/ASN-128D) P3I appears as a prior-year navigation modification covering engineering changes, training equipment, data, systems engineering, and prototype-asset installation. Two related DGNS (AN/ASN-128D) CDU/SW Upgrade ECP items distinguish the equipment B-Kit from the aircraft A-Kit. The B-Kit work included upgraded control-display units, software-upgrade support, aircraft integration, test and evaluation, and fielding; the A-Kit work included GPS anti-jam antennas, integration, and testing. Their installations used modification work orders.

Embedded GPS Inertial Nav System (EGI) P3I likewise has separate prior-year B-Kit and A-Kit modifications. The B-Kit plan acquired EGI EAGLE-M and EAGLE SOA shipsets alongside integration, testing, fielding, training, and support equipment. The A-Kit plan included GPS anti-jam antennas, aircraft integration, test and evaluation, and productionization. Although retained in this line's acquisition history, funding for Army Navigation Systems programs was realigned in FY 2021 to budget line 8662A01006, Aviation Assured-Position, Navigation, and Timing (A-PNT).

Airborne Maritime Fixed (AMF-A) Radio Integration is another prior-year communication modification rather than a distinct FY 2027 request. Its plan covered production-line aircraft A-Kits, support equipment, systems engineering, test and evaluation, and nonrecurring aircraft-integration work. Taken together, the historical items show the line's progression from navigation and earlier communications installations to the requested-year ARC-231A effort. The FY 2027 activities continue the practical work of making secure radio hardware and software usable, qualified, and fieldable on Army aircraft.