The Air Force recently sought information from industry for a program called Western Range Command Destruct Modernization (WRCDM), which would implement the Enhanced Flight Termination System (EFTS) by 2020, according to a notice posted on Federal Business Opportunities.

EFTS is the Air Force’s future secure and digital codes for terminating errant space launches. Currently, analog secure codes called High Alphabet Flight Termination are codes are used on Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) programs, or national security space launches. A new Central Command and a new EFTS-capable Command Transmitting site will be developed and operated alongside the legacy command destruct system. The new Central Command and site must also be backward compatible to support High Alphabet and Inter-range Instrumentation Group (IRIG) command modes.

United Launch Alliance (ULA) often launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., part of the eastern range of space operations. Photo: ULA.
United Launch Alliance (ULA) often launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., part of the eastern range of space operations. Photo: ULA.

The government seeks a solution that can be accepted into operational use by 2020 and is consistent with the Eastern Range command destruct system baseline. The government said it believes that WV Communications of Newbury Park, Calif., is the only vendor with a complete EFTS solution with backward compatibility to support High Alphabet and IRIG that meets range safety requirements and can be implemented by 2020. But it still seeks statements of compatibility (SOC) from parties interested in performing as prime contractor for the WRCDM effort.

The EFTS uses digital encryption and command authentications to assure only valid commands are executed by the launch vehicles. It also uses a digital frequency modulated-based technique known as continuous phase frequency shift keying, along with signal encryption and authentication, to provide a secure and reliable pathway of protecting the public from malfunctioning space vehicles. The EFTS has five main components: flight termination receiver, encoder, monitor, triple data encryption standard unit and command controller. These are the three intended applications: missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and launch vehicles.

Proposals were due March 7.