Senior Leader C3 System - Aircraft

The Senior Leader C3 System - Aircraft (SLC3SA) program is a critical Air Force initiative focused on the procurement and modification of airborne communications systems for executive airlift aircraft supporting national senior leaders. The primary goal of SLC3SA is to ensure that aircraft such as the VC-25A, C-32A, C-40B, and C-37A/B are equipped with secure, survivable, and redundant communications capabilities. These enhancements allow senior leaders to make time-critical decisions and manage crisis actions while airborne, maintaining continuity of government and national command authority under all circumstances.

Specifically, the SLC3SA program objectives include the rapid acquisition, integration, installation, and testing of new airborne communications technologies. The modifications encompass upgrades to support Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI), Secret, and Unclassified voice, data, and video communications. The program ensures robust global wideband satellite, air-to-air, and air-to-ground connectivity, supporting both command and control functions and modern business enterprise systems. The effort also addresses mission communication system failures and capability gaps identified by the National Leadership Command Capability Senior Leader Communications Council.

Upgrades for four C-32A aircraft focus on advanced communications kits. Funding supports enhancements for two C-32A aircraft, including bandwidth aggregation, In-flight Information (IFI), Commercial Wi-Fi, Airborne Executive Phone-Enhanced (AEP-E), provisioning for Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), low latency worldwide data connection, and link resiliency. These upgrades are designed to improve both operational effectiveness and regulatory/statutory cyber compliance. The modification utilizes commercial-off-the-shelf items with non-recurring engineering for integration, and installation is conducted at contractor facilities.

Modifications for sixteen C-37A/B aircraft include multi-domain Wi-Fi, Ka-band SATCOM capability, Airborne Executive Phone-Enhanced (AEP-E), and cybersecurity improvements. Funding is directed toward enhancements for two aircraft. The objective is to provide senior leaders with secure and resilient communications across multiple domains, supporting global mobility and command and control requirements. Like the C-32 upgrades, these modifications are based on commercial technologies adapted for military use and installed by contractors.

The C-40B aircraft are also included in the SLC3SA program, with funding supporting enhancements for two aircraft. Planned upgrades include M3 modem integration, bandwidth aggregation, IFI, Commercial Wi-Fi, AEP-E, MUOS provisioning, and low latency worldwide data connectivity. These improvements ensure that C-40B aircraft can support senior leader missions with reliable, high-capacity communications, both in-flight and on the ground.

Across all aircraft types, SLC3SA funding may be used to address Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) issues, program support costs, advisory and assistance services, systems integration labs, trainers, support equipment, and other government costs. The program also supports compliance with financial audit requirements under Title 10 U.S.C. Chapter 9A, Sec 240-D. The request reflects a reduction for advisory and assistance services, aligning with Executive Order 14222 to promote government efficiency and cost savings.