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.
Harris Corporation will supply its Falcon III radios and associated systems to an unnamed nation in the Middle East under a new $23 million order. The radios are being procured as part of a wider tactical communications modernisation programme.
The contract will see Harris supply the Falcon III radios, accessories, software, service and support, as part of a system that will provide battlefield forces with greater command and control and situational awareness by transmitting tactical voice, video and data.
The system integrates a full suite of software-defined radios from the Harris Falcon III RF-7800 family. This includes the lightweight RF-7800S, a soldier personal radio for full-duplex voice and data communications over 2km; the RF-7800M for wideband mobile ad-hoc networking; and the RF-7800W High-Capacity Line-of-Sight Internet Protocol radio for high-speed backhaul data communications. The order also includes networking components, accessories and spares.
Brendan O'Connell, president, International Business, Harris RF Communications, said: ‘Harris is helping customers transition legacy tactical communications to modern networked wideband systems. These systems provide security forces with critical real-time tactical information in all forms — voice, video, imagery, position location, mapping and more.’
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.