SNC’s MAF NEXUS Revolutionizes USAF Mobility Air Forces
Photo credit SNC
In an era where the rapid exchange of information is paramount to mission success, SNC is at the forefront of transforming the U.S. Air Force's Mobility Air Forces (MAF) with its groundbreaking MAF NEXUS solution. This innovative capability promises to enhance operational efficiency, situational awareness, decision-making, and survivability for the U.S. Air Force and its global partners, particularly in the strategically critical Indo-Pacific region.
Traditional joint operations have long been hampered by outdated systems that struggle with interoperability and flexibility. SNC’s MAF NEXUS addresses these challenges head-on with a modular, open architecture that integrates advanced technologies across various platforms. This integration ensures that MAF missions are more adaptable, coordinated and efficient.
At the heart of MAF NEXUS is the ability to provide global command and control (C2) with real-time, mission-relevant information. This capability is crucial for navigating and maneuvering the Joint Force, especially in contested environments. SNC’s solution extends this connectivity to proven large aircraft platforms, from the C-130 and the KC-135 to the KC-46 and C-17, enhancing operational effectiveness across the board.
One of the standout features of MAF NEXUS is its ability to enhance situational awareness through sensor integration. By leveraging multiple communication paths and sensors, the system provides a common operating picture that improves data interpretation and bolsters decision-making. This capability is particularly vital in the INDOPACOM region where vast distances and diverse operational theaters demand seamless data sharing and rapid decision-making.
SNC’s solution also narrows capability gaps by enabling line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight data connections using networks such as Link 16, Tactical Targeting Network Technology, and the Mobile Ad-hoc Network. This connectivity ensures that mobility aircraft have real-time situational awareness, including access to the Space Force’s Unified Data Library, a game-changing advantage.
A key aspect of MAF NEXUS is its focus on modernization in place. The rapidly integrated solution utilizes cloud and edge computing to enable rapid software deployment with DEVSECOPS principles. This approach ensures that the system can quickly adapt to emerging threats and operational requirements, providing a low-risk, high-reward capability for the USAF and its allies.
SNC’s recent demonstration of its Airlift/Tanker Open Mission Systems (ATOMS) capability during the Mobility Guardian 2025 (MG-25) exercise showcased the transformative potential of MAF NEXUS. The exercise, which involved over 4,000 U.S. and Allied Forces personnel, highlighted the system’s ability to provide seamless data management and communications solutions across multiple aircraft platforms and ground nodes.
“INDOPACOM presents unique challenges and opportunities for the USAF and its global partners,” said James Ickes, SNC senior vice president of programs. “The vast distances, diverse operational environments, and the presence of near-peer adversaries necessitate a robust and flexible C2 capability. SNC’s MAF NEXUS is ideally suited to meet these demands, providing enhanced situational awareness, improved decision-making, and seamless interoperability across platforms.”
By enabling global C2 and real-time information sharing, MAF NEXUS ensures that the Joint Force can navigate and maneuver effectively, even under attack. This capability is critical for maintaining a strategic advantage in INDOPACOM and across the globe, where rapid and informed decision-making can mean the difference between mission success and failure.
SNC’s MAF NEXUS represents a significant leap forward in the modernization of USAF’s Mobility Air Forces by providing a modular, open architecture that enhances communication, situational awareness, decision-making and survivability. As the future of air mobility continues to evolve, SNC’s innovative solutions will play a crucial role in shaping the operational landscape and ensuring mission success. Ready now. No need to wait for the future, because our enemies won’t.