EP-3 Series

The EP-3 Series is a Navy budget line item that funds modifications to the EP-3E aircraft. The EP-3E is a land-based, long-range aircraft with electronic intercept devices for detection and tracking of enemy Radio Detection and Ranging and communications. The specific goals and objectives of this budget line item include addressing obsolescence issues, improving cyber protection posture, and maintaining compliance with National Security Agency (NSA) mandates. This funding also supports the Joint Airborne Signal Intelligence Architecture Modification Common Configuration (JCC) obsolescence Engineering Change Orders (ECO) to improve operational capability and aircrew productivity by updating the Electronic Support Measures systems, applying state-of-the-art signal exploitation/processing/display techniques, off-board classified communication, and expanding special signal processing capability while meeting cybersecurity, crypto, and emerging requirement upgrades.

The EP-3E Series budget provides continued support of EP-3E operations as a result of schedule pressure on development, production, and IOC for the MQ-4C Triton IFC-4. Additionally, based on NDAA 2011 guidance, the US Navy is required to maintain the EP-3E platform until a suitable replacement (in both capability and capacity) is fielded. As a result, the Navy authorized a three-year extension of the EP-3E through FY 2024 with sundown to complete mid-FY 2025. The FY 2024 JCC Obsolescence funds address the EP-3E mission viability, mission systems obsolescence, improves cybersecurity posture, National Security Agency mandates, and Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) modifications required to address emerging threats in a dynamic electronic warfare environment (aka pacing the threat) and responds to the current, immediate demand for information operations capabilities on the EP-3E.

In summary, this budget line item aims to ensure the continued viability of the EP-3E aircraft through necessary modifications to address obsolescence issues, improve cybersecurity posture, and meet emerging requirements in electronic warfare environments.