Exelis has secured a contract to upgrade the US Air Force’s (USAF) strategic automated command control system (SACCS).

Under the terms of $10.3m sole source contract, the company will insert a modern data storage and retrieval system into the legacy command and control system to help improve retrieval and verification of critical data for decision-makers.

In addition, the insertion would enable the existing structure to continue with uninterrupted service until 2030.

Exelis communications solutions business area vice-president and general manager Jennifer Schoonover said: "We understand the importance of this system to the air force, the Department of Defense, and our nation’s security.

"We were the original integrators of this system 30 years ago and have worked to maintain a strong relationship with our air force customer since then.

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"Exelis will continue to deliver this technically sound and affordable technology for this critical air force network."

Specifically, the replacement of the existing data archival system with modern data storage is expected to ensure operational performance of the structure and reduce the potential for human error factors in the future.

The contract also requires the company to deliver data drives of different types, support equipment, training and documentation, amongst others.

With 93 active nodes located across the country, the SACCS is a primary network for transmission of emergency action messages, orders, pass-codes authentication, warnings, strategic re-planning and re-direction, and damage / strike assessment.

Work under the contract is scheduled to start immediately and will take place at the Exelis facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana, US.

Image: A USAF personnel shuts down the Strategic Automated Command Control System subnet communication processor at Offutt Air Force Base, US. Photo: US Air Force Photo: courtesy of Charles Haymond.