US Air Force glimpses future of BLoS communication for B-52s
B-52H Stratofortresses could operate the IRIS BLoS communications solution in future. (Photo: USAF/Airman 1st Class Jesse Jenny)
Outerlink Global Solutions revealed on 11 July that it recently executed the first airborne demonstration of its IRIS BLoS communications solution aboard a USAF B-52H Stratofortress flying from Barksdale AFB.
IRIS was paired with an Iridium Certus terminal for the demonstration ‘to provide constant communication and reporting’, Outerlink noted in a statement. A ground-based C2 team assessed how IRIS transferred voice, data and imagery from the B-52.
Executed through the AFWERX Small Business Innovation Research Phase II contract, the flight demonstration was designed to test the feasibility of using Outerlink’s COTS system that would tie the B-52 into a global satellite architecture for unimpeded coverage.
Lt Col Andrew Embry, CO of the 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron, said: ‘The IRIS system is the solution that we need in order to equip the warfighter for today’s fight.’
The Iris system has already been adopted by rotary-wing platform operators. ‘Today, we learned that the IRIS System can be immediately employed using current joint tactics for operational and tactical control of long-range strike aircraft,’ said Lt Col Paul Goossen, chief of combat operations in the 608th Air Operations Center.
IRIS is set to replace the Global Iridium Bomber Set that has been in service since 2017, and Outerlink claimed that further support from Air Force Global Strike Command would allow for ‘permanent bomber integration and seamless coordination across geographic Air Operation Centers using the system’.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Digital Battlespace
-
EID to unveil new vehicle communication system at DSEI
The Portuguese company’s naval communications system is in service across more than a dozen countries. It has turned to its home nation for support in developing a new vehicle based C2 system.
-
Chess Dynamics successfully demonstrates Vision4ce AI-driven tracker
The Vision4ce Deep Embedded Feature Tracking (DEFT) technology software is designed to process video and images by blending traditional computer vision with artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to present actionable information from complex environments.
-
Wave Relay devices cleared for security use on commercial systems in industry trend
Persistent Systems has been cleared by National Security Agency (NSA) to transmit sensitive data on commercial networks. The devices are added to the NSA’s Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) component list which also includes other companies’ products providing the same security.
-
UK teases cyber spending boost in Strategic Defence Review ahead of “imminent” release
The release of the UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) has been long promised as mid-year. It is possible it could be as early as 2 June although the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) continues to play its cards close to its chest.
-
Intelsat emphasises SATCOM resilience for SOF in contested domains (video)
Intelsat outlines how its multi-orbit SATCOM architecture is enhancing connectivity and resilience for special operations forces operating in degraded and contested environments.
-
US Space Force’s next-generation missile warning system moves forward with $500 million in new contracts
Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) satellites are intended to provide early warning of missile launches from any location worldwide and new ground stations will result in expanded coverage of critical missile warning.