Naval Integrated Fire Control - Counter Air Systems Engineering

The Naval Integrated Fire Control Counter Air Systems (PE 0604378N) program is a multi-faceted research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) initiative managed by the U.S. Navy under Budget Activity 5: System Development & Demonstration. The overarching goal is to advance the Navy's capability to conduct integrated air and missile defense by extending the battlespace reach, improving interoperability, and optimizing the effectiveness of kill chains across air, surface, and strike warfare domains. The program is structured into several distinct project units, each with specific objectives that collectively support the Navy's modernization and operational readiness.

Project Unit 2757: All Domain Long Range Naval Integrated Fire Control (LR-NIFC) is focused on systems engineering, integration, and testing to deliver effective and interoperable long-range kill chains. The objective is to coordinate development and validation of all kill chain components sensors, networks, transport architectures, radios, weapons, platforms, and combat systems across multiple warfighting domains. This project emphasizes joint architecture and Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2) development, integrating key enabler programs to optimize current and emerging capabilities for the Navy and its mission partners. The acquisition strategy prioritizes near-term fielding of effective capabilities while continuing to mature solutions and inform future investments.

Project Unit 3159: Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air SE&I is a systems engineering integration and test effort aimed at extending the Naval Integrated Air and Missile Defense battlespace to the maximum kinematic range of Navy weapons. This includes engaging targets beyond the detection range of the shooter by leveraging existing system capabilities, upgrading component systems, and integrating them into an interoperable System of Systems (SoS). The project supports integration of the From The Sea (FTS) family of kill chains, which includes elevated sensors, platforms, fire control systems, and missiles, as well as other networks and sensors. Planned activities include test events such as capability demonstrations, cross-service sensor netting with joint service working groups, and modeling and simulation to support future architecture decisions.

Project Unit 3242: NIFC-CA Supported by Airborne Platforms centers on integrating Naval Integrated Fire Control (NIFC) From the Air (FTA) capabilities within key pillar programs, including F/A-18, EA-18G, E-2D, F-35, Link-16, and Tactical Targeting Network Technology Data Links. The goal is to improve lethality, survivability, and interoperability by extending the battlespace for air, surface, and strike missions. This unit decomposes SoS requirements into Mission Technical Baselines and Integrated Capability Technical Baselines for allocation to pillar programs. It supports verification and validation testing, performance assessments, and risk reduction activities through live, virtual, and constructive (LVC) events, as well as the development of digital architectures and mission assessment reports.

Project Unit 9999: Congressional Adds includes a congressional add for Stratospheric Balloon High Altitude Testing. The specific objective is to integrate and demonstrate the Navy's Minimum Viable Payload in the stratosphere to support persistent datalink network requirements identified by the fleet. The demonstration aims to provide a stable and persistent network capable of closing near-term fleet capability gaps by passing essential data across multiple domains for various tactical purposes. This includes deploying a small form factor terminal and a beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) radio. The effort is primarily focused on developmental testing and risk reduction flights, with further technical details classified.

Across all project units, the program leverages a combination of Navy warfare centers, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), and industry partners for systems engineering, test and evaluation, and management services. The program is funded under System Development and Demonstration, reflecting its focus on engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full-rate production. Efficiency adjustments and workforce optimization initiatives have resulted in some reductions in funding, but the program remains aligned with the Department of Defense's priorities for integrated, networked, and resilient fire control capabilities.