Introduction of the Project
SCOPE Command, a program of the High Frequency Global Communication System
(HFGCS) System program office (SPO), is an upgrade and modernization program that upgraded 14 high frequency (HF) ground stations worldwide to support four unique missions:
USAF Global,
Mystic Star, Inter-American Air Forces
Telecommunications Network (SITFAA), and Defense Communications System (DCS) HF entry
United States Air Force (USAF) Global
- Supports a wide range of users by providing air-ground-air, ship-to-shore, broadcast, and Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) capability to various DoD customers.
Mystic Star - Provides
HF communications for the President, Vice-President, cabinet members, and other senior government and military officials while aboard Special Air Mission aircraft.
SITFAA - A
Spanish/English/Portuguese language network supporting North, Central, and South American Air Force users in 18 countries. Provides voice and data HF links.
DCS HF entry - Provides HF communications services for tactical units in areas of the world where DCS connectivity is unavailable or insufficient.
Background
The present United States Air Force (USAF), High Power, High Frequency Radio system
installed during the 1960s and 1970s is logistically unsupportable. The
SCOPE (System Capable Of Planned Expansion) Command is a program that
modernized the current SCOPE Control, SCOPE Pattern, and SCOPE Signal III radio systems.
SCOPE Command replaced older HF radios and associated control equipment using state-of-the-art, commercial off-the-shelf / non-developmental items, and
the latest computerized control techniques.
The SCOPE Command HF Radio System functions as totally integrated HF radio equipment.
The 14 ground stations allow remote or local operator selection of operating frequencies, sideband selection,
transmitter power, antenna selection, and azimuth selection for directional antennas, half or full duplex operation,
and initiation of an Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) sequence.
The Joint Interoperability Test Command's (JITC) involvement with SCOPE Command is
twofold:
- Ensuring the interoperablity of SCOPE Command with other C4I systems, are in accordance with DoDD 4630.5.
- Acts as the Responsible Test Organization (RTO) for the SCOPE Command project.
Schedule
JITC support as the RTO and for interoperability certification will continue for several years
as required by the system.
JITC support for interoperability of SCOPE Command will continue after FOC is declared
through the recertification of the system which is required every three years IAW DoD policy.
