High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) Protection for Nuclear Command and Control Communications (NC3) Systems

This Phase II proposal provides the work plan and milestones to design, model, and manufacture a test bed for evaluating and validating optimal and novel solution sets for hardening a diverse set of Air Force (AF) facilities culminating in a complete specification and drawing package for an initial facility. Phase I was successful in analyzing AF Global Strike Command (GSC) Wing Command Posts (WCP) for High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) hardness, applicable requirements, and developing options for meeting these requirements. The team conducted multiple site visits to representative WCP to better understand equipment utilized, mission of the sites, and speak with personnel to determine needs. Key to Phase I, was validating the critical requirement to receive and process Emergency Action Messages (EAM) using Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal (ASNT). The Phase I final report provided four options to harden these WCP: (1) cabinet-level hardening, (2) hardening Mission Critical System (MCS) rooms, (3) hardening the entire WCP, and (4) hardening during new construction. The research team recommended considering hardening during any Sensitive, Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) modifications that may be planned. GSC is required to maintain a primary and an alternate WCP at each location to ensure operability for mission.