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 been awarded a contract from the US Air Force (USAF) for the delivery of its Falcon III AN/PRC-117G multiband manpack radios. The indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, worth $75 million, has an initial delivery order of $8 million, and was announced 14 May, 2012.
According to Harris, the air force is acquiring the AN/PRC-117G radios to provide next-generation wideband tactical communications to combat controllers and other ground personnel. The radios enable voice and data applications at the tactical edge, supporting network-enabled missions such as close-air support, precision fires, MEDEVAC and collaborative chat.
Software-defined and upgradeable, the AN/PRC-117G supplies mobile ad-hoc networking, as well as voice and high-bandwidth data applications. These capabilities support network-enabled missions such as intelligence reporting and analysis, route planning, MEDEVAC, convoy tracking, and checkpoint biometrics. At about half the size of previous manpack radios, the AN/PRC-117G ‘delivers vast improvements in power, as well as size and weight’.
According to Harris, the AN/PRC-117G is ‘the first JTRS Software Communications Architecture-certified and NSA Type-1 certified wideband manpack radio system’. With its ‘fully integrated and NSA-certified High Assurance Internet Protocol Equipment (HAIPE) networking encryption, the AN/PRC-117G provides the highest level of information assurance to tactical units.’
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.
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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.