MANET supports Agile Combat Employment demonstration
Wave Relay mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) technology from Persistent Systems played a role in a recent USAF demonstration of its Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept.
The demonstration proved that the USAF ‘has the networking capability to support expeditionary air bases in an A2AD [anti-access area denial] environment while saving hundreds of millions of dollars’, Persistent Systems announced on 15 March.
ACE is a direct response to the near-peer threat posed by China and Russia, by shifting US force projection away from large bases to smaller, less vulnerable and rapidly deployable facilities with minimal staffing (pictured is an ACE exercise at Incirlik Airbase in Turkey in December 2020).
This concept requires a highly versatile and mobile C2 network that can tie together the core elements a combat wing required to plan missions, maintain jets, put them in the air, and defend the airstrip.
In the recent demonstration, Wave Relay ‘connected geographically dispersed units at different military bases, providing users with direct communication, situational awareness, full motion video, and audio’, said Adrien Robenhymer, business development VP for USAF, intelligence community and US Department of Energy programmes at Persistent Systems.
The company also demonstrated automated Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency communications via satellite, internet, and 5G networks, as well as by local area network for conditions when a BLoS capability is not available.
Robenhymer added that ‘interoperability lessons’ learnt in the latest demonstration feed into the USAF Advanced Battle Management System programme (and therefore ultimately into the Joint All Domain Command and Control effort).
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
More from Digital Battlespace
-
British Army’s ISR commander warns of new challenges facing defence forces
The race between using ISR and resisting the use of it by enemies has accelerated, leading to new methods and systems being required, according to the British Army’s lead on its ISR efforts.
-
Jacobs wins MoD cyber-security support contract
The deal with Jacobs will run until November 2027 and will see the company deliver a range of digital and IT specialist professional services to Defence Digital.
-
Orbit upgrades two multi-purpose terminals and carries out land testing
The communications company has upgraded two of its Beyond Line-of-Sight Multi-Purpose Terminals (MBTs) by introducing advancements in satellite communication technology and AI-driven maintenance capabilities.
-
Norway to receive maritime surveillance satellite data from Kongsberg
Norway's Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace has announced that its subsidiary Kongsberg NanoAvionics will produce three satellites and launch them in 2025.
-
First South Korean 425 Project observation satellite launched
In 2015, South Korea named a consortium of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Hanwha Systems, along with Thales Alenia Space providing the SAR payload derived from its HE-R1000 product, as preferred bidder to develop new Korea 425 Project reconnaissance satellites.