Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. 24/7 Space News .




TECH SPACE
Northrop Grumman Tests First Airborne Ka-Band Satellite Terminal
by Staff Writers
San Diego CA (SPX) May 26, 2010


File image.

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. This represents the first airborne terminal system to be certified for connection to the Wideband Global Satellite (WGS).

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.

"This is a tremendous step forward in realizing the objective of a redundant, robust and multi-layered approach to airborne communications and ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) dissemination that our senior leaders and warfighters deserve.

It was really a superb joint effort involving close Army, Navy and Air Force cooperation and partnerships throughout the test phases," said Craig Lucas, program director for the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC).

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.

"MR-TCDL's ability to dynamically route IP data seamlessly between space, aerial and ground layers is why it's the centerpiece of joint aerial layered networking concepts. This successful demonstration of airborne Ka access is critical to achieving this end," said Dave Gay, global communications division chief for U.S. Strategic Command.

The Defense Micro-Electronics Activity awarded the 30-month, $69 million MR-TCDL contract to support CERDEC.

The WGS satellites are elements of a system that increases U.S. communications capabilities, supporting the U.S. Department of Defense's war-fighting information exchange requirements, enabling execution of tactical command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR); battle management; and combat support information. The Ka-band WGS link uses a less-congested frequency band than other satellites and enables high data-rate information assimilation by airborne and ground-based terminals. Northrop Grumman's teammates on the program include U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.; L-3 Communications South West, Salt Lake City, Utah; Alpha Research and Technology Inc., El Dorado Hills, Calif., and Orion Air Group, Tucson, Ariz.

.


Related Links
Northrop Grumman
Space Technology News - Applications and Research






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








TECH SPACE
American Honour For Australian Space Tracking Stations
Tidbinbilla, Australia (SPX) May 25, 2010
The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC) at Tidbinbilla and former tracking stations, Honeysuckle Creek and Orroral Valley, near Canberra, will be honoured tomorrow by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) as sites of Historic Aerospace Significance. Managed by CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science (CASS), the CDSCC will host a plaque-unveiling ceremony at ... read more


TECH SPACE
Loral Announces Milestone in NASA Ames Project

Einstein And Einstein A: A Study In Crater Morphology

NASA Invites Public To Take Virtual Walk On Moon

LRO Team Helps Track Laser Signals To Russian Rover Mirror

TECH SPACE
Martian probe Phoenix is kaput: NASA

New Image Shows Damage On Silent Phoenix Mars Lander

Spirit Is Past Winter Solstice

Geometry Drives Launch Date For Mar Science Lab

TECH SPACE
NASA Fixes Bug On Voyager 2

Aerojet Validates Engine Design For Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle

Japan rocket blasts off with 'space yacht' and Venus probe

Immune System Compromised During Spaceflight

TECH SPACE
Seven More For Shenzhou

China Signs Up First Female Astronauts

China To Launch Second Lunar Probe This Year

China, Bolivia to build communications satellite

TECH SPACE
STS-132 Crew Completes Inspection And Prepare For Landing

Crews Opening Rassvet Hatches And Prepares For Spacewalk

Atlantis astronaut complete final spacewalk

Atlantis astronauts complete second spacewalk

TECH SPACE
Ariane 5 Makes History With The ASTRA 3B And COMSATBw-2 Mission

Ariane 5 Is Poised For Launch With ASTRA 3B And COMSATBw-2

H2A Launches Six Satellites

Sea Launch Files Plan Of Reorganization

TECH SPACE
Get It While it's Hot! Star Devours Planet

Exoplanetary System Offers Clues To Disturbed Past

Planet discovered lacking methane

'This Planet Tastes Funny,' According To Spitzer

TECH SPACE
New Video Of First US Weather Satellite

Northrop Grumman Tests First Airborne Ka-Band Satellite Terminal

Retail giant Wal-Mart sellng iPhone 3G for 97 dollars

Nitro PDF Reader out to blow away Adobe




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement