Utah ANG demonstrates TTNT connectivity with KC-135 for first time

摘要

The Utah Air National Guard demonstrated the use of Tactical Targeting Network Technology with a KC-135 Stratotanker for the first time in a flight earlier this month as part of a push to support the Air Force's role in implementing the broader Joint-All Domain Command and Control framework. The Aug. 7 flight which occurred during the guard's Wingman Day and 75th anniversary event, showcased a streaming connection between a KC-135, airborne contracted aircraft and mobile ground party and "successfully demonstrated advanced communication, mission computing and sensor technologies," according to a service news release issued Sunday. The demonstrated TTNT connectivity, a tactical datalink that sends information through networks such as JADC2 and the Air Force's own Advanced Battle Management System, was paired with an upgraded KC-135 that was first upgraded with Link 16 communication capabilities in My 2020, per the release. The KC-135, called Aircraft 0275, has been used to test the real-time information in the cockpit system, which provided the tanker with the NATO-standard datalink, Link 16, as well as other communications and situational awareness upgrades.