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AUVSI: USAF eyes BAMS comms suite adoption
The US Air Force is exploring a potential communications suite re-architecture for its Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned air systems, and is considering systems now being readied for the US Navy broad area maritime surveillance (BAMS) programme RQ-4N variant.
The potential common adoption of the Navy communications suite is part of ongoing efforts by both services to streamline their respective Global Hawk fleets by maximising the use of common systems according to BAMS deputy director program Jennifer Clarke.
Speaking 13 August at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International‘s annual conference in Washington she said “Air Force is looking at potentially re-architecting their communications architecture and they may be moving to the BAMS architecture. That is something that they are considering.
“The Air Force uses Ku [band] commercial satellite; we use the Ka and X [band] military communications satellite on BAMS. They are looking at that migration.”
Both Global Hawk variants currently carrying Common Data Link however the BAMS fit is based on a dual CDL capability. Both variants also have ARC-210 tactical radios and Inmarsat terminals.
Unlike the USAF aircraft the RQ-4N has a Link 16 terminal.
Clarke said that while the common Northrop “truck” was providing clear opportunities for cooperation between the two services, “we are looking for other commonality opportunities.”
This includes Air Force adopting de-icing systems being developed by Navy for its aircraft: “BAMS has an all weather capability; the Air Force is looking to potentially put that capability on their air vehicle. They will make that decision at the BAMS program air vehicle critical design review.”
The two services already use each others ground control station to support air vehicle operations in the United States, however the USAF is planning a replacement command and control system based on an open architecture. “Once they get that re-architected we will follow along post initial operational capability for BAMS. This common framework will allow for interoperability and it will also allow for growth.”
A common maintenance hub in the US is also under consideration Clarke said. Both services plan to share some support facilities internationally, including sharing basing where possible. Both services plan to operate Global Hawk from Anderson Air Force base on Guam.
By Peter La Franchi, Washington DC
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