Written by / Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
MIT 2010 Volume: 14 Issue: 5 (June)
Capacity Agreement Extends U.S. Communications in Middle East
SES World Skies, U.S. Government Solutions today announced it has signed a major capacity agreement with ARTEL to extend U.S. government communications capabilities in the Middle East. ARTEL has taken service on four full Ku-band transponders (144 MegaHertz) on board SES’ ASTRA 3B satellite, which was launched May 21 from Kourou, French Guiana. This follows a multi-transponder deal between SES and ARTEL in 2009, bringing ARTEL’s total bandwidth procurement on the ASTRA 3B spacecraft to eight, 36 MHz-equivalent transponders, or 288 MHz.
The capacity will support essential communications applications in the Middle East, and will deliver broadband, IP voice, data and video capabilities to entities within the U.S. government. ASTRA 3B is a state-of-the-art Ku and Ka-band spacecraft designed for the distribution of both directto- home broadcast services and two-way broadband services across Europe and the Middle East. The satellite has 60 Ku-band transponders and four Ka-band transponders, providing a wide range of connectivity from the 23.5E orbital location.
Airborne Terminal System Certified for Wideband Global Satellite
Representing the first airborne terminal system to be certified for connection to the Wideband Global Satellite (WGS), Northrop Grumman has successfully completed flight testing of an airborne satellite communications system, part of a network that will significantly enhance communications capabilities for warfighters. The flight test used the communications terminal system installed on a modified business jet aircraft to connect with a WGS via the Ka-band link. The test, which measured terminal performance including high data rates, is the second of three phases required to certify the airborne communications system for WGS operations. Northrop Grumman is performing the certification under the Multi-Role Tactical Common Data Link (MR-TCDL) Developmental and Operational Test program contract. The MR-TCDL system provides combat personnel with critical real-time networking connectivity by enabling extremely fast exchange of data via ground, airborne and satellite networks. The Ka-band WGS link uses a less-congested frequency band than other satellites and enables high data-rate information assimilation by airborne and groundbased terminals. Northrop Grumman’s teammates on the program include U.S. Strategic Command, L-3 Communications South West, Alpha Research & Technology, and Orion Air Group.
Air Force to Deploy Cyber Control System
The Air Force has selected HP Enterprise Services it to integrate, test and deploy a cyber control system (CCS) to provide strategic information and identify cyber threats to U.S. cyberspace. This advanced command and control system will monitor network activity and support defensive operations in the event of an attack on the country’s information infrastructure. The Air Force selected HP to implement CCS as a key part of its cyber warfare strategy. The mission of the CCS program is to deliver command and control of infrastructure and systems as well as provide situational awareness of network activities. Additionally, the system enables Air Force officials to recommend real-time responses or courses of action when faced with network intrusions or attacks. The $9 million, 12-month contract provides HP infrastructure and applications integration for the construction of the CCS infrastructure. HP’s BladeSystem and the redesigned architecture enable simplified management, superior processor and network performance, and more efficient power and cooling capabilities. CCS will be developed and deployed in a phased approach. When fully implemented, the solution will provide the Air Force Cyber Command Center with comprehensive, real-time cyber command and control capabilities. In the future, CCS services will be able to carry out automated predictive actions in anticipation of developing threats and share information with other environments, such as the Air Operation Center, U.S. Cyber Command and U.S. Strategic Command.
IT Services Support Army Signal Center in the Pacific
STG has been awarded a $17.4 million, three-year contract to provide IT support services to the U.S. Army’s 4th Signal Center Pacific-Theater Network Operations and Security Center (PAC-TNOSC). PAC-TNOSC’s mission is to operate, manage and defend the Army segment of the Pacific LandWarNet to guarantee the effective delivery of mission-critical network services to all Army entities serving in the Pacific region. STG will provide timely, secure and responsive 24x7x365 IT services to users in the region. PAC-TNOSC’s network operations services provide key decision makers, supporting commands and warfighters with secure communications and access to information systems that are of the essence in implementing their operational objectives. PAC-TNOSC represents one of the six Army Theater NOSCs. STG is already playing a significant role at the PAC-TNOSC, as well as one other NOSC.
Army Seeks Satellite Units for Modernization of Enterprise Terminals
Harris has received a $55 million delivery order for advanced satellite terminals under the Army’s Modernization of Enterprise Terminals (MET) program. These next-generation military satellite communications terminals will provide the worldwide backbone for high-priority military communications and missile defense systems. Harris is the prime contractor for the indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity MET contract, with a five-year base period plus a five-year option period. The MET contract is valued at a potential $600 million, including the base and option periods. This brings total MET orders for Harris to $153 million since the program was awarded in April 2009. Harris had previously received delivery orders for satellite terminals and other equipment and services in support of the initial first article test development and certification phase of the MET program. Under this new $55 million order, Harris will supply additional terminals—large fixed terminals, large fixed terminals with High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse protection, and transportable terminals of the standard and hardened configurations. The order also includes four options that would encompass new development of a small fixed terminal, a large fixed radome, an enhanced interactive electronic technical manual, and training simulation hardware. Separately, Harris announced in May that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire CapRock Communications, a global provider of mission-critical managed satellite communications solutions for the energy, government and maritime industries.
WIN-T Increment 3 Transmission Subsystem Clears Review
Lockheed Martin has successfully completed an in process review (IPR) for the critical design of the next phase of the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 3 Transmission Subsystem. Increment 3 continues development of the components needed to meet the full range of network capacity, security and full on-the-move capabilities for the Army’s modular force. The transmission subsystem provides the foundation for the network’s dynamic capability to transfer data over a highly dispersed, noncontiguous area. This review assessed design maturity of all hardware, software and firmware elements of the Transmission Subsystem, which includes advanced components for both satellite and terrestrial communications at-thehalt and on-the-move (multi-channel radios, antennas and communications waveforms). With the completion of this IPR, the team moves into the build and test phase for the Transmission Subsystem components that form the tactical communications network. General Dynamics C4 Systems is the prime systems integrator for WIN-T, whose team members include Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Harris, L-3 Communications, Cisco Systems and Juniper Networks.
Tests Validate Systems for Wideband Global SATCOM Program
L-3 Linkabit recently participated in a very successful Ruggedized MPM-1000 Design Verification Test with Program Manager Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (PM WIN-T), Lockheed Martin IS&GS and General Dynamics C4S. Featuring L-3’s Ruggedized MPM-1000 modem with the Network Centric Waveform (NCW), the test was conducted at Linkabit’s San Diego, Calif., facility and demonstrated the modem’s compliance to PM WIN-T program requirements. The evaluation was performed with the ruggedized MPM-1000 modems running over internal NCW networks that were specifically designed to take advantage of Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) features. In addition, L-3 Linkabit participated in a very successful Payload Characterization and Verification (PCV) test for the Wideband Global SATCOM System (WGS-3) conducted at Fort Monmouth, N.J., along with its partners, PM WIN-T and General Dynamics C4S. The test, which featured several types of terminals using Linkabit’s MPM-1000 modems with the NCW, was designed to verify that NCW-enabled terminals can operate at Ka-band over the newly launched WGS-3.
Portable Unit Offers High Storage Capacity and Data Rates
The NextDimension Evo Plus HD is the newest NextDimension portable computer from NextComputing. The NextDimension Evo Plus HD was designed to meet the needs of users who require very high disk storage capacity and storage data rates, a large amount PCI expansion, or a combination of both. This level of storage and I/O expansion capability makes the NextDimension Evo Plus HD ideal for dataintensive applications like 10 Gigabit network data inspection, uncompressed stereoscopic 3-D video recording, or military intelligence data acquisition. The NextDimension series is NextComputing’s flagship line of highperformance portable computers. NextDimension systems are known for their small, compact design that packs enterprise-level server and workstation class computing into a briefcase-style package for users who need to run demanding applications away from their office. The NextDimension Evo Plus HD adds even more capability to this line-up by increasing the number of PCI Express and PCI-X expansion slots and the amount of storage available in the system, all while remaining lightweight and portable. ♦
