Boeing Flight Demonstrates Narrowband Communications Relay on ScanEagle

July 22, 2010 by Jeffrey Bradford · View Comments
Filed under: Boeing, Syndicated Industry News 
Boeing Flight Demonstrates Narrowband Communications Relay on ScanEagle
July 20, 2010

SEATTLE, - The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and its subsidiary Insitu Inc. announced today that they successfully demonstrated a high-performance Narrowband Relay communications system aboard a ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in June. The relay was designed to meet the needs of small distributed forces operating in areas where Line of Sight (LOS) communications would not normally be possible.

The U.S. Defense Department has widely deployed handheld narrowband radios as the primary method of communications among small, distributed forces. However, these radios are limited in range and cannot communicate where the radios do not have a direct path to one another. The Boeing-developed Narrowband Relay, deployed aboard a small UAV, will provide a dramatically longer range and LOS capability over hills and buildings.

"This technology can make a dramatic difference in providing key communications capabilities to warfighters operating in geographically challenging environments around the world," said Nancy-Kim Yun, director, Integrated Shipboard Systems, Boeing Network and Tactical Systems (N&TS). "Our Payloads team has demonstrated the best of Boeing – they took on a challenge and found a solution that is easy to implement and cost-effective for potential customers."

To demonstrate the capability, two Thales PRC-148 JEM-compatible radios were driven more than 1,100 miles around central Washington state and northern Oregon, an area that has geography similar to the terrain in Afghanistan – hilly, with many obstacles preventing direct radio contact. As a ScanEagle UAV, outfitted with the Narrowband Relay, flew above the Boeing Boardman, Ore., facility, testers were able to use the relay to communicate with the radios.

"This flight demonstration was the culmination of a number of laboratory- and land-based tests, in many environments and with other radios, including PSC-5, PRC-117, and PRC-152," said Dick Paquette, Boeing Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence [C4I] Payloads Program manager. "This capability expands on our previous in-flight demonstrations that integrated C4I payloads and UAVs in support of the warfighter."

The U.S. Special Operations Command, the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command have expressed interest in the results of the Boeing-funded demonstration.

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Raytheon Provides Tactical Networked Communications in Indian Military Field Demonstration

July 16, 2010 by Jeffrey Bradford · View Comments
Filed under: India, Raytheon, Syndicated Industry News 
Raytheon Provides Tactical Networked Communications in Indian Military Field Demonstration
July 16, 2010

First time 2-Mbps EPLRS capability demonstrated internationally

FARNBOROUGH, England, - Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has successfully proved its tactical networked communications capabilities using the Enhanced Position Location Reporting System-Extended Frequency-International (EPLRS-XF-I) during a second-phase field demonstration in support of India's modernization efforts.

System performance during the April 2010 demo was marked by a highly reliable 2-Mbps (millions of bits per second or megabits per second) – the first time this has been demonstrated with EPLRS internationally – across distances exceeding 30 km (18.6 miles), using stationary as well as mobile nodes. It provided for the simultaneous voice, video and data communication, yet in an easy-to-use, simplified architecture.

"Working with Precision Electronics Limited (BSE: PRECISIO) of Noida, India, we have shown Bharat Electronics Limited and the Indian Ministry of Defence that the EPLRS family of radios provides a tailored, low-risk netted communications solution to meet specific MoD requirements," said Brian McKeon, vice president, Raytheon Network Centric Systems Integrated Communications Systems.

The demonstration featured networked communications for a battlefield surveillance solution. The versatile communications unit supplied a secure, wireless network system in static and mobile operating environments where the network infrastructure did not initially exist.

EPLRS is one of the most widely used tactical wireless networks today, with more than 25,000 units fielded across the U.S. armed services, Canada and Australia. The XF-I system uses the most advanced EPLRS waveform available for communications, critical position location information and effective electronic counter-countermeasures. It provides a robust, self-healing network that automatically adapts to network changes, including in difficult urban environments.

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Boeing Successfully Demonstrates Directional NetWork System for US Fleet Forces Command

June 23, 2010 by Jeffrey Bradford · View Comments
Filed under: Boeing, Syndicated Industry News 
Boeing Successfully Demonstrates Directional NetWork System for US Fleet Forces Command
June 23, 2010

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., - The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] announced today that it has proven the capability of its Directional NetWork System (DNW), the next generation of 100 megabytes-per-second+ mesh networking, during the U.S. Fleet Forces Command's (USFF) Trident Warrior 2010 (TW10) experiment off the coast of Southern California. DNW was the core system used in the operational tests, conducted June 14-16 by Boeing and the U.S. Navy.

The experiment demonstrated Boeing's ability to sustain network connectivity without satellite communications by using an airborne mesh network. This type of network provides multiple communications links between several platforms at more than 100 megabytes per second, ensuring reliable routing between any two users.

For the tests, DNW terminals were installed aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard off the coast of San Diego; at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton; at Point Loma in San Diego to simulate another ship; and inside a helicopter flying along the coastline. The tests demonstrated communications capabilities between all the terminals.

"The primary goal of Trident Warrior is to improve information dominance capabilities, maritime warfighting policy and procedures, and interoperability between U.S. and coalition partners," said Navy Capt. Carl Conti, USFF director of experimentation. "This means testing emerging technologies, tactics, techniques, and procedures that increase the capability of the warfighter."

"Boeing met its goal of passing data between ships, aircraft and shore sites through a network, ensuring connectivity with one another and with intelligence processing centers during critical warfighting operations," said Alex Lopez, vice president of Boeing Advanced Network & Space Systems (AN&SS). "This tool keeps information flowing in vital situations, increasing warfighters' safety."

The experiment was part of the larger Range of Warfare C2 (ROWC2) operations being conducted by the Navy's PMW/A-170 program and AN&SS, a division of Boeing Phantom Works.

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General Dynamics C4 Systems to Open Army Support Office at Aberdeen Proving Ground

June 3, 2010 by Jeffrey Bradford · View Comments
Filed under: General Dynamics, Syndicated Industry News 
General Dynamics C4 Systems to Open Army Support Office at Aberdeen Proving Ground
June 3, 2010

New office to support C4ISR programs that deliver advanced communications capabilities to U.S. soldiers.

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md., -General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today announced plans to open an office inside Aberdeen Proving Ground to support critical Aberdeen Proving Ground-based military technology programs that connect U.S. Army soldiers to one another and to the information they need to safely and effectively execute their missions. The company is relocating a core team from Fort Monmouth, N.J., to a new office building within The Government and Technology Enterprise (The GATE) project at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

General Dynamics C4 Systems specializes in integrating command, control, communication, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) technologies, products and systems.

The Army program-management operations that General Dynamics supports - known as "Team C4ISR" - are responsible for several key communications programs, including Warfighter Information Network - Tactical (WIN-T), the Army's new broadband wireless tactical networking system; the Joint Tactical Radio System program, a family of interoperable, affordable software-defined radios; the Command Post of the Future, a collaborative online command and control system; and the Common Hardware/Software - 3 (CHS-3) program, which enables military users to access the latest commercial computer and networking advancements.

Larry Rhue, senior vice president of Strategic Development for General Dynamics C4 Systems, said, "As military modernization moves ahead, we will go wherever the Army goes to ensure we are supporting the Communications- Electronics Command's 'Team C4ISR' to the best of our ability."

General Dynamics C4 Systems has leased 10,000-square feet of space in the new single-story office building at 6245 Guardian Gateway in Aberdeen Proving Ground. The company plans to move in this summer.

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Harris Corporation Awarded $18 Million Follow-on Production Contract for MIDS Military Tactical Communications System — Press Release

April 23, 2010 by Matthew Potter · View Comments
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, Events, Harris Corporation, IT, Press Releases, development program, logistics 

Harris Corporation Awarded $18 Million Follow-on Production Contract for MIDS Military Tactical Communications System

MELBOURNE, Fla., April 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) has received a two-year, $18 million follow-on contract from ViaSat Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAT) for additional hardware to be integrated into Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) terminals. MIDS terminals provide military forces with high-capacity, jam-resistant, digital communication links to exchange near real-time tactical information, including both data and voice – among users in the air, on ground and at sea. The follow-on award brings the overall value of the contract for Harris to $192 million since 2000.

Harris is providing an enhanced voice card, power supply assemblies, processor modules and the chassis for each of the terminals, as well as comprehensive environmental testing of the completed assemblies for ViaSat’s MIDS Low Volume Terminal (LVT). The LVT provides U.S. military forces with voice and data transmission capabilities based on Link 16 protocol requirements for digital tactical communications.

Most of today’s U.S. Air Force and NATO fighter aircraft have voice and/or limited data communications capabilities that can only connect with selected aircraft. MIDS provides interoperable data communications that link fighter aircraft to airborne controllers, surveillance radars, collection assets and ground-based command and control nodes. The MIDS LVT Link 16 protocol provides combat aircraft with integrated information from the battlefield, including threat and targeting data in near real-time. All U.S.-allied nations are high-potential customers for the MIDS application.

“The MIDS program combines the very best of Harris Corporation’s proven expertise in communications systems integration, and highlights the success of the strong, long-term partnership we have with ViaSat,” said Wes Covell, president, Harris Defense Programs. “The ViaSat/Harris team continues its commitment to providing superior, interoperable, tactical communications to the warfighter.”

The ViaSat/Harris team is under contract to the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) for full-rate production of various models of MIDS, which are installed in military aircraft such as the U.S. Navy F/A-18 and the U.S. Air Force F-16, and also used in ground-based applications in shelters, vehicles and weapon systems such as the Patriot missile defense system.

Harris Defense Programs develops, supplies and integrates communications and information processing products, systems and networks for a diverse base of aerospace, terrestrial and maritime applications supporting U.S. Department of Defense missions. Harris is committed to delivering leading-edge technologies that support the military’s ongoing transformation to network-centric communications.

About Harris Corporation

Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 150 countries. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has approximately $5 billion of annual revenue and more than 15,000 employees — including nearly 7,000 engineers and scientists. Harris is dedicated to developing best-in-class assured communications® products, systems, and services. Additional information about Harris Corporation is available at www.harris.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management’s current expectations, assumptions and estimates of future performance and economic conditions. Such statements are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and future trends to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements about the expected value of the program to Harris are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. Other factors that may impact the company’s results and forward-looking statement may be disclosed in the company’s filings with the SEC. Harris disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Source: Harris Corporation

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Raytheon Deploys Civil Communications Solutions Demonstration

February 2, 2010 by Jeffrey Bradford · View Comments
Filed under: Raytheon, Syndicated Industry News, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security 
Raytheon Deploys Civil Communications Solutions Demonstration
February 1, 2010

Traveling facility will demonstrate seamless communications to first responders

Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has developed a mobile civil communications solutions demonstration that allows first responders to experience seamless communications capabilities that could help save lives when crises strike.

The mobile demonstration is a high-tech experience where public safety professionals can fully immerse themselves in rescue scenarios and realize the benefits that interoperable communications provide.

The mobile civil communications demonstration will begin in Los Angeles and provide demonstrations around the country to first responder agencies at the state and local levels. It travels on a 33-ton, 53-foot, 18-wheel vehicle that expands to 733 square feet -- twice its normal size -- when stationary. It is also a self-contained unit, complete with all the necessary equipment for a variety of live, interactive demonstrations using Raytheon's array of civil communications products.

The experience features Raytheon's open architecture solutions, which allow users who operate on different types and frequencies of legacy communications networks to communicate locally and regionally, or in systems that span the United States.

First responders receiving the demonstrations are encouraged to bring their own radios and use them to communicate with any radio on another system or frequency.

"For more than 40 years, Raytheon has provided soldiers on the battlefield access to seamless, interoperable voice, video and data communications systems, without the benefit of existing infrastructure," said Jerry Powlen, Raytheon Network Centric Systems vice president of Integrated Communications Systems. "We have now taken that proven technology and applied it in a public safety environment, virtually eliminating barriers to communication when it matters most."

"When police officers and firefighters from different municipalities respond to emergencies, incompatible radios can hinder basic communication," said Mike Bostic, a Raytheon NCS director of civil communications and 34-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department. "The technology exists to solve that problem, so we want to visit our public safety professionals, and let them see for themselves how a truly interoperable communications system can help make them safer."

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