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 has announced that it has received orders totalling $7 million from the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for additional Falcon multiband manpack radios and accessories. The orders were announced on 10 January.
Under the contract, the company will supply its Falcon III AN/PRC-117G, which allows operators to communicate by Type-1 secure voice, video, and wideband data. The system supports a growing number of network-enabled missions, including intelligence reporting and analysis, collaborative chat, e-mail, biometric enrollments and more.
The Falcon III AN/PRC-117G provides line-of-sight, beyond-line-of-sight and wideband communications capabilities in a single lightweight package, and also provides enhanced battlefield situational awareness by connecting warfighters to the tactical Internet.
George Helm, president, Department of Defense business, Harris RF Communications, said: ‘The AN/PRC-117G’s software-defined and upgradeable platform enables special operations forces to use high-speed data, voice and real-time video to address its command and control and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance requirements. Widely deployed across all branches of the US Department of Defense, the AN/PRC-117G meets emerging mission requirements by providing unprecedented situational awareness for dismounted and vehicular warfighters.’
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.