SOTECH 2010 Volume: 8 Issue: 1 (February)

L-3 Global Communications Solutions has announced that their Panther manpack SATCOM terminal has completed full ARSTRAT certification for operation on the WGS satellite system. L-3 employs an exclusive reflector technology that enables the most efficient use of satellite resources of any manpack terminal in the world. This translates to more bandwidth available for the warfighter and the lowest possible operating costs on commercial satellites.

WGS is the Department of Defense’s highest- capacity satellite communications system, supporting war fighting information exchange requirements, enabling execution of tactical command and control, communications, and computers; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; battle management; and combat support information.

Ken Meyer: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Free Fall Advanced Ram Air Parachute Systems

The U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM) Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division (NCD), has a requirement for the manufacture and delivery of military free fall advanced ram air parachute systems (MFF ARAPS).

The MFF ARAPS is the response to a capability gap identified by the U.S. Army and is intended to offer increased altitudes for parachute deployment, increased stand-off and increased exit weights. The MFF ARAPS will be a non-developmental item. This acquisition will be conducted on a full and open basis and will be awarded based upon best value. A firm fixed-price, five year requirements-type contract is anticipated with a one-year base ordering period and four optional one-year ordering periods.

Communications Headsets

MSA’s CHIPS communication system integrates with MSA’s Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) to provide communication configurations, clear radio communications, and hearing protection for areas where weapons may be fired. The system consists of a user-selectable head communication component, an intelligent PPT module, and connectors that interface with military communication radios and military vehicle intercom systems. Unobtrusive microphone/ sound transmission system works alone or with MSA’s ACH ballistic shell. The design offers tri-com configurations and recognizes hardware changes with voice reminder.

CERDEC BAA

The U.S. Army CECOM, Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC) Command and Control Directorate has announced the expectation of the broad agency announcement (BAA) to award a number of research efforts through fiscal year 2010. The topics of interest are:

• Topic A: Radio Frequency (RF) Based Navigation Technologies for the Dismounted Soldiers. Proposals are sought that will identify, develop, demonstrate and advance the technologies of RF based navigation for dismounted soldiers in urban and indoor environments where GPS performance is degraded or unavailable.

• Topic B: Position and Navigation Technologies. The area of interest under this topic will center on advancing the technology to mitigate navigation system error growth and position displacement/velocity sensors.

• Topic C: Navigation Sensors Integration Techniques. The area of interest under this topic centers on integration techniques for the technologies stated in the research interest topic (A) Radio Frequency Based Navigation Technologies for the Dismounted Soldiers and topic (B) Position and Navigation Technologies of this solicitation.

• Topic D: GPS Receiver M-code. The area of interest is focused on activities that include conduct of concept analyses and simulation of M-code signal processing techniques to improve GPS receiver performance.

True North Module System

The Marine Corps is currently seeking information for a non-developmental true north module (TNM) system for the vehicle-mobile Marine. The Marine Corps has an operational requirement to provide a device that will enhance the capabilities of the common laser rangefinder (CLRF) system by providing an accurate azimuth measurement referenced to true north. This will be an improvement over the existing CLRF digital magnetic compass (DMC), which is adversely affected by magnetic disturbances.

The use of the TNM system will enable highly accurate target location in environments where the DMC is adversely affected. The focus of the system procurement will be on the vehicle-mobile observer. Size and weight will be a primary consideration; however, the system will provide an accurate targeting capability in all environments in order to give the operator the means for engaging targets at long-range distances.

The attributes that follow describe some of the specific characteristics that are required to provide the desired capability: a) operate and meet accuracy requirements in the presence of magnetic fields (threshold); b) operate and meet accuracy requirements day and night in all weather conditions (threshold); c) operate and meet accuracy requirements in urban canyons, inside of buildings and under jungle canopy (threshold); d) determine true azimuth in 120 seconds with 8 mils 1 sigma azimuth accuracy and in 300 seconds with 5 mils 1 sigma azimuth accuracy (threshold); e) determine true azimuth during quick close combat engagements in 15 seconds with 10 mils 1 sigma azimuth accuracy (objective); f) operate handheld without a tripod (objective); g) be interoperable with the CLRF (and any part of the TNM that is permanently attached to the CLRF) combined with current Marine Corps targeting equipment, specifically, the AN/PAS-22 long range thermal imager, the AN/PAS-25 thermal laser spot imager, and the AN/PVS-14 monocular night vision device (threshold); h) weigh less than or equal to 7.5 pounds (threshold), 3.0 pounds (objective); and i) export digital data to the Defense Advanced GPS Receiver.

Hybrid systems are allowable to better meet the attributes listed. Vendors capable of meeting the attributes stated above by making minor product modifications for integration with the CLRF are encouraged to respond.

Netted Iridium

Iridium Communications Inc. and ITT Corporation have announced that ITT received a contract from the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren Division to supply 1,450 Iridium-based handheld tactical satellite communication devices for use by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Under the firm, fixed-price contract, valued at $9.7 million, ITT will manufacture and deliver the Distributed Tactical Communications Systems-Radio Only (DTCS-RO) transceivers by March 2010. The DTCS-RO handheld push-to-talk radios use the Iridium satellite network to provide overthe- horizon, beyond-line-of-sight tactical networks for warfighters on the move.

In June 2009, NSWC awarded Iridium a five-year development contract valued at up to $21.7 million for Phase Two of the DTCS program, also known as Netted Iridium. Under Phase Two, Iridium is making in-orbit upgrades to the satellites and ground infrastructure to expand the footprint of DTCS nets from 100 to 250 miles, and to permit more than 2,000 nets to be activated simultaneously on the satellite network.

“The initial production contract to ITT validates DoD’s commitment to deploying this important tactical communication capability to warfighters in the field as quickly as possible,” said Lieutenant General John Campbell, USAF (Ret.), executive vice president for government programs at Iridium. “DTCS fulfills an immediate mission-critical requirement for beyond-line-of-sight and over-the-horizon communications in mountainous terrain. The DTCS-RO handsets are lightweight, easy to use, require no deployed infrastructure, and represent a real breakthrough in handheld mobile satellite communications.”

“Keeping our soldiers connected with tactical comms-on-the-move capabilities is vital to their missions,” said Mark Adams, vice president, ITT Corporation. “DTCS will allow commanders and other network users at all echelons to exchange information throughout the theater of operations regardless of terrain features.”

Vehicle Comms

Thales Communications Inc. recently announced the award of two contracts by the Joint Program Executive Office Joint Tactical Radio System ( JPEO JTRS) to provide cradle vehicle adapters (CVAs) for the U.S. Marine Corps. Under these contracts, Thales will deliver 11,000 50-watt CVAs to the Marine Corps for use with previously-purchased Thales AN/ PRC-148 JTRS-approved radios. These contracts were awarded under the Consolidated, Interim, Single-Channel Handheld Radio contract.

The 50-watt CVA combines the functionality of Thales’ battle-proven AN/PRC-148 JEM ( JTRS Enhanced MBITR) handheld radio set with a high-powered vehicle amplifier, providing 50 watts of RF power output from 30 to 88 MHz and 20 watts of RF power output from 88 to 512 MHz. A compact, rugged unit with a low-profile form factor and total weight of 16 pounds, the CVA can be easily integrated into space constrained land, air and sea-based platforms. The CVA has the unique capability of remoting the radio separate from the amplifier to reduce the operational profile and, like the company’s other vehicle mount units, allows cable-free, two-second radio dismount, providing users with a fully-charged and immediately-operational handheld radio upon dismount.

The CVA uses the AN/PRC-148 JEM as its core component, providing higher RF power output for all of the AN/PRC-148 radio capabilities with a common human machine interface. The AN/PRC-148 JEM radio hosts all of today’s key waveforms, including ANDVT, HAVEQUICK I/II, SINCGARS, MELP, 56 kbps high throughput waveform, Project 25 and SATCOM IW.

“The CVA, developed specifically for space-constrained installations, offers an alternative to legacy vehicular installations with the benefits of the multiband, multi-mode capability and a future growth path of the AN/PRC-148 JEM,” said Andrew Bostock, director of tactical ground communications programs at Thales Communications.

Armed Aerial Scout

On October 16, 2008, the U.S. Army announced the termination of the armed reconnaissance helicopter (ARH) contract with Bell Helicopter. On November 07, 2008, the Army released a sources sought to determine the ability of existing or development helicopters to meet emerging requirements. Since the November 2008 sources sought, the DoD has embarked upon an analysis of alternatives. The armed aerial scout program will provide a platform that conducts armed reconnaissance to fight for actionable combat information to enable joint/combined airground maneuver execution of mobile strike, close combat and vertical maneuver operations across the full-spectrum of military operations.

Although the Army has not established formal requirements for this program, PM ARH is asking for information to better understand a full range of options for aircraft ranging in size from light armed reconnaissance to heavy attack with performance capability from Standard Sea Level to 6K/95. ♦

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