Adapting to Modern Threats: Optimizing the FAAD C2 System for Effective Counter-UAS Operations

IEEE In a dynamic environment where adversaries’ capabilities are in constant flux, the ongoing development of the United States Military’s ability to effectively counter threats such as Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (RAM) and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) is paramount. The proliferation of UAS technology has created an urgent need for a robust Counter-UAS capability to mitigate aerial threats. At the forefront of the US Military’s air defense operations is the Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAAD C2) system, which serves as the central hub for managing air defense operations, ensuring the safety of military personnel and equipment. The effectiveness of the FAAD C2 system hinges on the seamless interaction between human operators and the system itself. However, there is significant room for improvement in the interface design of the FAAD C2 system, particularly in enhancing the user experience while reducing cognitive workload. Employing the Systems Decision Process and the latest human-centered design principles offers systematic insights to optimize the system. Additionally, feedback gathered from primary and secondary users has informed a value model for the system’s interface. Collaboration with key stakeholders, including recently deployed FAAD C2 operators, Integrated Fires Rapid Capability Office (IFRCO) within the Program Executive Office Missiles and Space (PEO MS), Northrop-Grumman, and human-centered systems engineers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research and Engineering (MITRE), is instrumental in this research. Recommendations to enhance the FAAD C2 human-machine interface include implementing semiotic principles, ecological interface design, and model-based user optimization. The ongoing commitment to a user-centric design approach ensures that the FAAD C2 system continues to be a highly effective tool for air defense operations, meeting modern warfare’s evolving needs and challenges.