From Jul. 2-21, United States service members came together in Northern Edge 2023-2, a joint field training exercise held at various locations in the Pacific region. This year’s exercise, organized by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, marks a significant departure from its traditional Alaskan setting, as it explores alternate locations within the region, including a Joint Exercise Control Group operating from Hawaii. The exercise’s goal is to deliver a comprehensive and highly realistic training experience, enhancing the readiness of participating forces through interoperability challenges across joint, multinational, and multi-domain operations.
As service members prepare for the challenges of Northern Edge 2023-2, one cutting-edge technology is set to revolutionize battlespace communications in the Indo-Pacific. The Utah Air National Guard’s 151st Air Refueling Wing is leading the charge with its modified KC-135 Stratotanker, equipped with the Real-Time Information in the Cockpit (RTIC) system and the Collins Aerospace Intelligent Gateway.
The RTIC system provides KC-135 crews with real-time situational awareness, displaying critical information directly in the cockpit, including enemy threats, target data, and allied force locations. This empowers the crews to make tactical decisions independently, enhancing safety and efficiency during missions.
Building upon RTIC, the Utah ANG, in collaboration with Collins Aerospace, has been testing the Intelligent Gateway, a groundbreaking advancement for the KC-135. The Intelligent Gateway bridges beyond line-of-sight networks with operational and strategic level information, enabling seamless communication between joint and air operations centers, tactical command nodes, and coalition assets across vast distances, from sub-surface to space.
This cutting-edge technology significantly improves the battlespace’s common operating picture, allowing joint and allied forces to communicate through the KC-135 Intelligent Gateway and make informed tactical decisions. From the air to the ground, the situational awareness of all personnel involved is enhanced, providing a decisive advantage in challenging environments.
As the Utah ANG KC-135 team joins Northern Edge 2023-2, it brings with it the unprecedented capabilities of the Intelligent Gateway. During the exercise, the KC-135 collaborated with the Raytheon Multi-Program Testbed (RMT) to test advanced communication and intelligence-gathering capabilities. The RMT captured information on simulated threats using radar and electronic intelligence sensors, generating precise targeting solutions shared with the Utah ANG KC-135 and other players on the network for C2 purposes.
With its focus on joint and multinational operations, Northern Edge 2023-2 offers the ideal platform for testing and showcasing the advanced battlespace communication capabilities of the Utah ANG’s KC-135 Stratotanker. The exercise’s relocation to alternate Pacific locations further emphasizes the adaptability and agility of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, essential qualities in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
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