The Tactics and Configurations departments from Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) One have been working with VQ-2, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10 and Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to streamline the process of integrating new systems into the EP-3E Aries aircraft.

The faster new systems can be taken from the engineers and installed in the squadron’s aircraft, the better the aircraft can be employed against the growing technology of adversaries.

The process of systems integration is now improved because VQ-1 has been more involved.

Squadrons have always been involved in the upgrading process, but “not to the extent that we were able to use a working system,” said Chief Cryptologic Technician Sandy Rose, VQ-1 Tactics Department leading chief petty officer.

Involving personnel from the squadron in the development of the aircraft systems helps to overcome training barriers caused by the frequent deployment intervals. VQ-1 is continually in a pre- and post- deployment environment, and deploys combat reconnaissance crews on a two to three month rotation; that can mean roughly 50 percent of the squadron are deployed at a time.

Previously, one crew would visit the engineers to receive extensive training on a new system. That crew was expected to pass their working knowledge on to other aircrew in the squadron. This approach was not always practical.

“You had one crew that was incredible, and then you had eight crews that were (less proficient) depending on the training that they had received,” said Rose.

Another improvement is the speed of integration. According to Rose, in the past, developing and “from proof of concept to deployment… could take anywhere from 18 to 24 months.” As the new process takes hold, total time to integrate a fully functioning system may only take six months.

“This is the first time I’ve seen it actually go from ‘here’s a laptop, use it and see what you can do with it’ to ‘hey it’s fielded on a plane … and it works’,” said Rose.

This speed in development is essential for training personnel. Previously, one crew was trained for a new upgrade, but the aircraft remained at the engineering facility for two years following that training. According to Rose that could mean that people trained on the upgrade could be out of the Navy before they got the plane back.

Also, under the new process, upgrades will reach all aircraft at once. In the past, one aircraft underwent the lengthy 18-month configuration and testing, and then a crew took it on deployment.

“When they (modified) the other airplanes, every plane was different,” said Rose. This lack of standardization made training aircrew members difficult.

The new process of integration incorporates a system called Tactical Display Framework (TDF), improving situational awareness among the operators, and stabilizing the aircraft computer systems.

“The system would freeze up a lot, but TDF eliminates all that,” said Rose.

Testing for TDF started in a lab environment at NAVAIR with stand-alone simulated work stations and quickly evolved into a successful proof-of-concept demonstration conducted in an EP-3E aircraft.

“There were a couple little glitches at first, but we reloaded it and took off, which is unusual, usually… it’s a nightmare… We may see [TDF] on every airplane in 6 months,” said Rose.

The new integration process provides some distinct improvements: Aircraft systems are more up to date, systems can better meet the needs of the mission and crew, and there are fewer variations between aircraft. The result is increased situational awareness and combat effectiveness to VQ-1’s globally deployed reconnaissance fleet.

“How we integrate things, not just in the reconnaissance community could be applied to other aviation programs,” said Rose.