US Space Force increases efforts to plug training capabilities gaps
The service has been seeking simulation and emulation solutions capable of reproducing multiple in-orbit threats.
The US Army has received a Milestone C decision and authorisation for a limited rate initial production (LRIP) of the Falcon III AN/VRC-118 Mid-tier Networking Vehicular Radio (MNVR) from Harris Corporation, the company announced on 5 October.
The army has placed an initial order worth around $10 million for the two-channel Falcon III MNVR, which is based on Falcon III tactical wideband networking technology.
The MNVR uses the Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW) and Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW). It enables soldiers to share video, data and voice and also operates as a node in a mobile network, enabling information to be transmitted between MNVR systems until it reaches its destination.
The radios will be fielded to the 1st and 3rd Brigades of the army's 82nd Airborne Division as part of Capability Set 17.
Brendan O’Connell, president, Harris Tactical Communications, said: ‘MNVR has proven that it provides the army a robust capability between battalion and above and company and below to allow continued brigade operations in satellite denied environments.
‘The MNVR supports the warfighters’ mission and exceeds system reliability, operational availability and maintainability requirements.’
The service has been seeking simulation and emulation solutions capable of reproducing multiple in-orbit threats.
The service has been conducting several acquisition and upgrading efforts involving artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve communication, data analysis and ISR systems.
The Syracuse 4B communications satellite, developed by Airbus and Thales Alenia Space, was launched last year, bolstering secure military satellite communications for the French Armed Forces. Thales has now been selected to provide terminals for vehicles.
The growing importance of space in modern warfare, advancements in satellite technology, and increasing threats from rivals like China and Russia were among the topics of a Eurosatory 2024 panel on military space operations.
AN/ARC-232A is a Starfire radio that provides VHF/UHF communications to airborne platforms and the transceiver is software-programmable, allowing for multiple waveform support as well as optional national electronic counter counter-measure (ECCM) capability.
During the 18-month period of the contract, Lockheed Martin will apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques to create surrogate models of aircraft, sensors, electronic warfare and weapons within dynamic and operationally representative environments.