Written by / Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
MIT 2009 Volume: 13 Issue: 9 (October)
BAE Systems has completed the first real-time mobile tests of new wireless military radio technology designed to help warfighters dispense critical communications without interruption during battle. The technology allows more traffic on more networking systems, giving users an advantage during air-to-air, air-toground and soldier-to-soldier communications. Under a $15.5 million Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) contract, the company is developing wireless radios that can untangle interfering digital communications signals. The DARPA Interface Multiple Access (DIMA) program aims to greatly increase network capacity and performance in highly congested mobile networks. The radios will allow multiple transmissions to occur simultaneously on one frequency and can support as many as five simultaneous conversations into the same time and frequency slot, even in the presence of severe near-far interference. Known as multiuser detection, BAE Systems’ real-time technology enables users to communicate simultaneously on the same channel without centralized control or infrastructure. Recent experiments validated the technology in a mobile, ad-hoc network environment and demonstrated the vehicle-mounted DIMA radio’s ability to receive up to five simultaneous transmissions from different users while traveling at 15 mph.
Multiband Radio Deliveries Reach Six Figures
Harris has delivered its 100,000th Falcon III AN/PRC-152(C), a multiband handheld radio that is providing improved secure real-time communication between deployed forces at all levels during combat and crisis. The software-defined AN/PRC-152(C) is the most widely deployed Joint Tactical Radio System-approved (JTRS) radio. Currently in use by all branches of the Department of Defense, many allies and federal agencies, the radio was funded by Harris and is being procured under the JTRS Enterprise Business Model. This development work has also yielded the only JTRS-approved wideband networking radio available today, the Falcon III AN/PRC-117(G). The multiband, multimission Falcon III AN/PRC-152(C) radio is available in handheld and vehicular “grab and go” configurations and provides advanced communications interoperability to U.S. and allied forces, as well as federal agencies. The radio has significantly advanced the speed and reliability of voice-and-data communications on the battlefield.
Mobile Technology Enables Wireless Wide Area Networks
General Dynamics Itronix will offer Qualcomm’s Gobi global mobile Internet technology as a new capability for the Itronix line of rugged notebooks, tablet PCs and ultra-mobile PCs, including the vehicle-rugged GD6000 and the fully rugged line of GD8000 notebook computers. The multi-mode Gobi technology enables General Dynamics Itronix customers to take advantage of high-speed data access services from 3G network carriers around the world. With Gobi’s technology in General Dynamics Itronix notebooks, IT departments can simplify their operations by procuring and deploying one notebook in a wireless wide area network configuration, enabling global connectivity among multiple carriers. The embedded technology significantly reduces the need to support multiple embedded or external cards and reduces the number of hardware assets that need IT management. To keep the technology current, software updates are easily downloaded whenever the connection manager is launched.
Air Force Seeks Improved Targeting and Sensor Pods
The Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a $153 million contract to provide LITENING G4 targeting and sensor systems and related equipment.
Under the terms of the agreement, Northrop Grumman will deliver LITENING G4 targeting and sensor pods to the Air Force, as well as kits for the Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard, to enable the upgrade of existing LITENING AT pods to the G4 configuration. The contract also includes the supply of additional data links for the Air National Guard and Air Force. LITENING G4 is a selfcontained, multi-sensor laser target-designating, surveillance and navigation system. The pods are also equipped with “plug and play” technology that enables them to accept a variety of data links without further modifications to the pod or aircraft. LITENING G4 capabilities include an all-digital 1K forward-looking infrared sensor and a 1K charge-coupled device TV sensor, providing improved target detection and recognition ranges; a laser target imaging program imaging system providing unprecedented target recognition in a wide variety of conditions; and a “plug and play” data link system that enables improved communications between airborne forces and the ground.
Multiplexing Platform Gains Joint Certification
The Marconi MHL 3000 Multi-Haul Optical Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) platform from Ericsson Federal Inc. has passed rigorous testing to ensure that U.S. government agencies’ critical communications can be delivered with the highest security and reliability. The platform was tested and certified by the Defense Information Systems Agency Joint Interoperability Test Command, and is now listed on the Unified Capabilities Approved Products List in the Transport Appliances category under the Network Infrastructure section. MHL 3000 is a flexible and versatile platform to address the optical transport in metro and core applications, reaching the 3.2 Tb/s capacity over 4,000 km reach. The single platform addresses a range of applications from CWDM to high DWDM channel counts and longer distances, at rates up to 100 Gb/s, to satisfy increased traffic demand and higher bit rate services.
New Offerings Aid Federal Agency Cybersecurity
QinetiQ North America has unveiled four new offerings designed to help federal agencies jump-start their cybersecurity. The services can provide the fundamental framework necessary for practical steps into the world of cybersecurity. With this core foundation, agencies can proactively protect their staff, their sensitive information and their infrastructure from emerging online threats and risks. The services are cybersafety training designed to introduce employees to cyberthreats and Internet risk; a cyber-risk and vulnerability assessment aimed at helping identify an organization’s threats, risks and vulnerabilities from an adversary’s perspective; malware discovery, with information covering details of the malware ecosystem, distribution chain, actors, providers and IP spaces involved in generating and spreading it; and comprehensive malware awareness, which identifies the threats to an organization’s mission that are present, active and attacking in the wild today.
Authentication Solutions Clear Security Testing
The USB-based eToken PRO 72K (Java) and eToken PRO Smartcard 72K (Java) authentication solutions from SafeNet, a provider of information security now affiliated under common management with Aladdin Knowledge Systems, have received Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-2 Level 2 and 3 certifications. The broad and versatile range of authentication solutions offered by SafeNet enables organizations to protect sensitive data, digital identities, and network resources and infrastructure across multiple domains, including VPNs, laptops and PCs. These solutions are supported by the Token Management System 5.0, which simplifies password and authenticator management and deployment. As the flagship product of SafeNet’s certificate-based authentication portfolio, the eToken PRO USB, along with its smart card form factor, are the company’s first Java-based authenticators to undergo rigorous testing by the accredited National Institute of Standards and Technology cryptographic module testing lab at InfoGard.
Crew Display System Improves Vehicle Situational Awareness
The Integrated Crew Display System (ICDS) for military vehicles from Rockwell Collins provides enhanced situational awareness, resulting in increased crew safety and mission effectiveness. ICDS provides video feeds via a helmet mounted display (HMD) from multiple sensors and systems in the vehicle, which can be simultaneously viewed by all crew members. The Vehicle Video Switch, a component of the system, accepts video sources from the electronic systems in virtually any type of military vehicle including the Abrams, Bradley, HMMWV and Strykers, and provides the display to vehicle crew members. Crew members can select from any of the video input sources, and view them on the PV35 HMD. Up to four viewers can simultaneously view the displays. The operator controller is attached to the crew member’s vest, and is provided by the PV35 Display Control Module.
Test Command Awards IT Support Services Task Order
The Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) has awarded a five-year, $42 million task order to STG to provide enterprise information technology support services to the ATEC deputy chief of staff for information management. The task order, which was awarded under the Information Technology Enterprise Solutions-2 Services contract vehicle, is a continuation of STG’s support to ATEC under a previous seven-year, $67 million contract. To help satisfy ATEC’s requirements, STG brought together a team of IT service providers with proven enterprise network operations, network defense and service desk operations skills. STG will continue to provide services in the areas of customer support, software engineering, Web development, network operations, information assurance, IT logistics, training and administrative services. ♦
