TAMPA, Fla., June 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
(Harris Booth #2015) –
Advanced radio technology from Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS), an
international communications and information technology company,
created a mobile, airborne communications network that transmitted
high-bandwidth, information throughout a 7,500-square-mile area
during a recent Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment (JEFX).
The successful experiment was announced during the annual
Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) being held
June 15-17 at the Tampa Convention Center.
The live-fly JEFX-10 exercise, conducted at Nellis Air Force
Range, Nevada, realistically
simulated irregular-warfare scenarios, including those that might
be encountered by troops operating in the mountains of Afghanistan. A dozen RT-1944/U
SeaLancet™ radios, collaboratively developed by Harris and small
business partner Reliable System Services (RSS), were used in the
air and on the ground to create a wideband relay network. The
network connected low-altitude helicopters, high-altitude planes,
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and dismounted soldiers.
Operating in full-mesh and point-to-multipoint modes, the
network provided data link rates of 48 Mb/s beyond a 30-mile
radius. The system also included prototypes of a new
high-gain, directional panel antenna designed by Harris engineers
and featuring innovative anti-jam, interference-mitigation
characteristics. Antenna panels can be combined to allow
360-degree coverage through switch sector operation.
"The RT-1944/U enables true collaboration between manned and
unmanned platforms, levering the strengths of each," said
Wes Covell, president, Harris
Defense Programs. "This successful demonstration comes at a
time when the military is relying more and more on live feeds from
UAVs. The ability to rapidly push rich situational awareness
data from the tactical edge up the command chain is an urgent
requirement for all branches of the military."
The Harris radios networked four different air platforms (AH-64D
Apache, MV-22 Osprey, E-2C Hawkeye and Orion), three different UAV
nodes (Buster, Raven and Hunter/Killer), two remote cameras, and a
mobile ground team with wideband connection to the Combined Air
Operations Center for data analysis and re-distribution.
The type of tactical network enabled by the RT-1944/U represents
a fundamental advancement in how video and targeting data can be
shared on the battlefield for improved collaboration. Where
data was previously transmitted over static, point-to-point
networks, the RT-1944/U creates a fluid, IP-based network where
assets dynamically connect and disconnect while on the move.
In addition, the high-throughput capability of the RT-1944/U
supports more than 15 simultaneous video streams, enabling video to
travel between manned and unmanned platforms easily and quickly.
Current systems support only limited transmission of video
streams.
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.
SOURCE Harris Corporation