Platform Agnostic Command and Control (PACC)

Photon is the software core of the USAFĺs Advanced Collaboration Enterprise Services (ACES) program. It allows users to share information with one another by dragging assets from their own deviceĺs display and dropping them onto the displays of their teammates. It works across devices, networks, and geographic locations, providing an entire mission with a shared view of information at all times. The Platform Agnostic Command and Control (PACC) program deploys scalable BMC2 capabilities to existing airframes such as the KC-135, KC-46, C-17, and C-130 using commercially available hardware, existing BMC2 applications, and the ACESácapability package. áPACC fills a critical battle management gap caused by the decommissioning of AWACS and JSTARS airframes, and slow acquisition of the E-7 Wedgetail replacement. The PACC approach will provide a ôfight tonightö capability for airborne C2 that is inherently agile, survivable, redundant and expeditionary, and represents a substantial increase in capabilities over current BMC2 systems. áPACC connects BLOS sensors to line of sight 4th/5th generation tactical assets, while simultaneously informing strategic decision makers at higher echelons. Current training capability enabled by ACES within the 513th Air Control Group requires integration of additional software (BC3, TAMSS, SPIDR, TSAS) to prepare battle management teams for employment from TOC-Ls, KC-135s or KC-46s. The ACES environment upgrade directly supports OI 6 (Readiness to deploy and fight) and enables OI's 2, 3, and 4.