Boeing will deliver an additional 336 Combat Survivor Evader Locator (CSEL) radios, and upgrade the system’s global base station network for the US Air Force, the company reported on 15 January. The value of the new orders from the air force will total about $9.7 million.
The new radios will be the latest configuration, including non-GPS beacon and secure texting capabilities. Base station upgrades will modernise hardware and software to improve communication speeds and provide greater network and information protection.
The US military uses the global CSEL communication system to aid the rescue of downed pilots and other warfighters in danger. A user transmits position, location and situational information via line-of-sight two-way voice and data, beacon, or over-the-horizon communication paths.