Boeing awarded CSEL upgrade contracts
Boeing has been awarded contracts to upgrade US Air Force Combat Survivor Evader Locator (CSEL) handheld radios and ultrahigh frequency (UHF) base stations with new capabilities to enable faster search and rescue of isolated personnel. The contracts, valued at $13.6 million, were announced on 18 January.
CSEL is a fully qualified, next-generation survival radio system is comprised of over-the-horizon relays, ground, and user equipment segments for the US joint services. The system is designed to minimise the search aspect of a rescue mission by providing recovery forces with precise geo-positioning information and secure, over-the-horizon and line-of-sight, two-way data communications capabilities.
These capabilities allow recovery forces to locate, authenticate, and communicate with isolated personnel in near real-time, anywhere in the world. More than 54,400 CSEL radios have been delivered to the US military to date.
According to Boeing, upgrading the CSEL UHF base stations will bring the CSEL network up to the latest Information Assurance standards that protect networks from outside intrusion.
Steve Capps, Boeing CSEL program manager, said: ‘These new contracts confirm that Boeing is meeting our commitments to provide our military customers with world-class, next-generation communications capabilities. CSEL provides the US military with the strategic advantage of an easy-to-use, multifunction radio that has already played a critical role in numerous successful rescues involving downed combat forces and pilots.’
More from Digital Battlespace
-
EU Commission invites tenders for new satellite constellation with military applications
The European Commission has launched an invitation tender for a contract to implement the EU satellite constellation dubbed IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite).
-
New US developer LightRidge to take on air and space sensor markets
The private-equity backed firm combines the businesses of space payloads specialist GEOST and airborne sensor manufacturer Ophir.
-
Northrop Grumman to commence work on MESA sensors for US Air Force E-7 AEW fleet
The USAF will become the fifth operator of the E-7/MESA combination following Australia, Turkey, South Korea and the UK.
-
Northrop Grumman details bid for US Navy TACAMO aircraft replacement
The company believes its role as prime contractor on the E-2 Hawkeye puts it in a strong position for the programme to replace the USN's Boeing E-6 Mercury fleet.
-
Northrop Grumman hones US Space Force satellite design in virtual environment
The company has applied its Highly Immersive Virtual Environment technology to the design process of polar overwatch satellites ordered by the US Space Force.