MUOS vastly improves current secure mobile satellite communications. It links mobile users for the first time to a powerful voice and data system that delivers high speeds and streaming data, similar to consumer smartphone capabilities. The complete constellation of four spacecraft plus on-orbit spare will provide global coverage with prioritized voice, video and data services.

"Delivery of the second MUOS satellite begins the process of launch site testing and delivery to orbit," said Iris Bombelyn, vice president of Narrowband Communications at Lockheed Martin.

"MUOS-2 will add on-orbit military satellite communication that is heavily in demand. Our first space vehicle has performed exceptionally on orbit, providing legacy payload voice calls at full capacity. In fact, we recently demonstrated mobile data and voice transmissions using our advanced payload."

Today, MUOS-2 was safely transported from Lockheed Martin's Sunnyvale, Calif., facility to nearby Moffett Federal Airfield. The 60th Air Mobility Wing of Travis Air Force Base, Calif., then loaded the satellite aboard a C-5 aircraft and successfully shipped the spacecraft to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Prior to launch, engineers will complete post shipment testing, fuel the satellite's propulsion system and encapsulate the spacecraft inside the launch vehicle's payload fairing. The fairing will then be mated on top of the Atlas V launch vehicle for final integrated testing and closeout preparations for launch.

MUOS-1 has been providing crystal-clear voice communications since it started operating in 2012. More recently, its advanced Wideband Code Division Multiple Access payload has performed flawlessly since terminals began using its waveform, which was developed by General Dynamics and delivered by Lockheed Martin earlier this year.

There are more than 20,000 existing terminals compatible with and can access the MUOS legacy payload. After MUOS-2 is operational and the ground stations and terminals have been certified, the full suite of MUOS features will be available to users in the field as new terminals are deployed.

]]> Thu, 23 MAY 2013 23:05:21 AEST Cambridge MA (SPX) May 17, 2013 - The way in which radio spectrum is currently allocated to different wireless technologies can lead to gross inefficiencies. In some regions, for instance, the frequencies used by cellphones can be desperately congested, while large swaths of the broadcast-television spectrum stand idle.

One solution to that problem is the 15-year-old idea of "cognitive radio," in which wireless devices would scan their environments for vacant frequencies and use these for transmissions. Different proposals for cognitive radio place different emphases on hardware and software, but the chief component of many hardware approaches is a bank of filters that can isolate any frequency in a wide band.

Researchers at MIT's Microsystems Technology Laboratory (MTL) have developed a new method for manufacturing such filters that should improve their performance while enabling 14 times as many of them to be crammed on a single chip.

That's a vital consideration in handheld devices where space is tight. But just as important, the new method uses techniques already common in the production of signal-processing chips, so it should be easy for manufacturers to adopt.

There are two main approaches to hardware-based radio-signal filtration: one is to perform the filtration electronically; the other is to convert the radio signal to an acoustic signal - a physical vibration - and then convert it back to an electrical signal.

In work to be presented in June at the International Conference on Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems, Dana Weinstein, the Steve and Renee Finn Career Development Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Laura Popa, a graduate student in physics, adopted the second approach.

Resonant ideas
Both types of filtration use devices called resonators, and acoustic resonators have a couple of clear advantages over electronic ones. One is that their filtration is more precise.

"If I pluck a guitar string - that's the easiest resonator to think of - it's going to resonate at some frequency, and it's going to die down due to losses," Weinstein explains. "That loss is related to, basically, energy leaked away from that resonance mode into all other frequencies. Less loss means better frequency selectivity, and mechanical acoustic resonators have less loss than electrical resonators."

Acoustic resonators' other advantage is that, in principle, they can be packed more densely than electrical-filtration circuits. "Acoustic wavelengths are much smaller than electromagnetic wavelengths," Weinstein says. "So for a given frequency, my mechanical resonator is going to be much smaller."

But in practice, the number of acoustic resonators in a filtration bank has been limited. The heart of any device that converts electrical signals to mechanical vibrations, or vice versa, is a capacitor, which can be thought of as two parallel metal plates separated by a small distance.

"The capacitors change the impedance" - a measure of the ease with which a wave propagates - "that the antenna sees, so you may have unwanted reflections back into the antenna," Weinstein says.

"Each capacitor from each filter is going to affect the antenna, and that's no good. It means I can only have so many filters, and therefore so many frequencies that I can separate my signal into."

Another problem with acoustic resonators is that turning them on or off - a necessary step in the isolation of a particular transmission frequency - requires giving each resonator its own electrical switch. Traditionally, an incoming radio-frequency signal has had to pass through that switch before reaching the resonator, suffering some loss of quality in the process.

Switching channels
Weinstein and Popa solve both these problems at a stroke. Moreover, they do it by adapting a technology already common in wireless devices: a gallium nitride transistor.

Almost all commercial transistors use semiconductors: materials, like gallium nitride, that can be switched between a conductive and a nonconductive state by the application of a voltage. In Weinstein and Popa's new resonator, the lower "plate" of the capacitor is in fact a gallium nitride channel in its conductive state.

Switching that channel to its nonconductive state is like removing the lower plate of the capacitor, which drastically reduces the capacitors' effect on the quality of the radio signal. In experiments, the MTL researchers found that their resonators had only one-fourteenth the "capacitive load" of conventional resonators. "The radio can now afford to have 14 times as many filters attached to the antenna," Weinstein says, "so we can span more frequencies."

Switching the channel to its nonconductive state also turns the resonator off, so the researchers' new design requires no additional switch in the path of the incoming signal, improving signal quality.

Finally, the new resonator uses only materials already found in the gallium arsenide transistors common in wireless devices, so mass-producing it should require no major modifications of existing manufacturing processes.

Commercial adoption of cognitive radio has been slow for a number of reasons. "Part of it is being able to get the frequency-agile components and do it in a cost-effective manner," says Thomas Kazior, a principal engineering fellow at Raytheon. "Plus the size constraint: Filters tend to be big to begin with, and banks of tunable filters just make things even bigger."

The MTL researchers' work could help with both problems, Kazior says. "We're talking about making filters that are directly integrated onto, say, a receiver chip, because the little resonator devices are literally the size of a transistor," he says. "These are all on a tiny scale."

"They can help with the cost problem because these resonator-type structures almost come for free," Kazior adds.

"Building them is part of the semiconductor fabrication process, using pretty much the existing fabrication steps that you're using to build the transistor and the rest of the circuits. You just may need to add one, or two at the most, additional steps - out of 100 or more steps."

]]> Thu, 23 MAY 2013 23:05:21 AEST Redondo Beach, CA (SPX) May 17, 2013 - Northrop Grumman has completed a ground demonstration of a communication system that would allow the U.S. Air Force's B-2 stealth bomber to operate with the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite network. The end-to-end tests prove the maturity of the technologies required to begin full-scale development of a new satellite communications system.

Northrop Grumman conducted the demo April 18 at its Space Park facility in Redondo Beach. It included a prototype active electronically scanned array (AESA) antenna developed by the company, a government-furnished Navy Multi-band Terminal and an AEHF engineering model payload.

Northrop Grumman is the Air Force's prime contractor for the B-2, the flagship of the nation's long-range strike arsenal, and one of the world's most survivable aircraft.

"Our tests suggest that once a B-2 is equipped with our new antenna and an extremely high frequency [EHF] radio, communication will occur accurately and securely with the AEHF satellite network during all phases of the aircraft's mission," said Maria Tirabassi, Northrop Grumman's product manager for B-2 EHF antenna systems. "This capability would allow it to operate more effectively in anti-access/area-denial environments."

The company conducted the tests at EHF frequencies using secure transmission techniques, added Tirabassi. Her test team plans to repeat the laboratory demos in the near future using other B-2 satellite terminal candidates, including a government-furnished Family of Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminal.

The AEHF engineering model payload is representative of EHF satellite payloads currently on orbit. It is used by the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Army to test new EHF satellite terminals prior to testing them with operational satellites.

Earlier this year, Northrop Grumman validated the performance of the AESA antenna on instrumented test ranges. The tests verified the antenna's performance over its entire transmit and receive frequency band, and over its required range of scan angles. The AESA antenna will allow the B-2 to send and receive battlefield information at data rates significantly faster than its current satellite communications system.

Following completion of the current AEHF laboratory demos, Northrop Grumman plans to demonstrate the ability of the AESA antenna and a terminal to communicate directly "over the air" with an operational AEHF satellite.

The B-2 is the only long-range, large-payload U.S. aircraft that can penetrate deeply into access-denied airspace, and the only combat-proven stealth platform in the current U.S. inventory.

In concert with the Air Force's air superiority fleet, which provides airspace control, and the Air Force's tanker fleet, which enables global mobility, the B-2 can help protect U.S. interests anywhere in the world. It can fly more than 6,000 nautical miles unrefueled and more than 10,000 nautical miles with just one aerial refueling, giving it the ability to reach any point on the globe within hours.

]]> Thu, 23 MAY 2013 23:05:21 AEST Sunnyvale CA (SPX) May 15, 2013 - The U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin have delivered the second Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) spacecraft to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., where it will be prepared for a July liftoff aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.

MUOS vastly improves current secure mobile satellite communications. It links mobile users for the first time to a powerful voice and data system that delivers high speeds and streaming data, similar to consumer smartphone capabilities. The complete constellation of four spacecraft plus on-orbit spare will provide global coverage with prioritized voice, video and data services.

"Delivery of the second MUOS satellite begins the process of launch site testing and delivery to orbit," said Iris Bombelyn, vice president of Narrowband Communications at Lockheed Martin.

"MUOS-2 will add on-orbit military satellite communication that is heavily in demand. Our first space vehicle has performed exceptionally on orbit, providing legacy payload voice calls at full capacity. In fact, we recently demonstrated mobile data and voice transmissions using our advanced payload."

Today, MUOS-2 was safely transported from Lockheed Martin's Sunnyvale, Calif., facility to nearby Moffett Federal Airfield. The 60th Air Mobility Wing of Travis Air Force Base, Calif., then loaded the satellite aboard a C-5 aircraft and successfully shipped the spacecraft to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Prior to launch, engineers will complete post shipment testing, fuel the satellite's propulsion system and encapsulate the spacecraft inside the launch vehicle's payload fairing. The fairing will then be mated on top of the Atlas V launch vehicle for final integrated testing and closeout preparations for launch.

MUOS-1 has been providing crystal-clear voice communications since it started operating in 2012. More recently, its advanced Wideband Code Division Multiple Access payload has performed flawlessly since terminals began using its waveform, which was developed by General Dynamics and delivered by Lockheed Martin earlier this year.

There are more than 20,000 existing terminals compatible with and can access the MUOS legacy payload. After MUOS-2 is operational and the ground stations and terminals have been certified, the full suite of MUOS features will be available to users in the field as new terminals are deployed.

]]> Thu, 23 MAY 2013 23:05:21 AEST Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei (UPI) May 16, 2013 - Communications equipment manufacturer Harris Corp. received a $40 million order for Falcon tactical radios from the Brunei armed forces.

Several different models from the Falcon III series will be provided and form part of a broader tactical communications system, a statement from Harris said.

The radios provide high-performance, line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight voice and data communications, including wideband networking.

The order, which includes logistical and field support, was received in the third quarter of Harris's 2013 fiscal year, the statement said.

"Harris radio systems will establish a secure communications backbone for the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and its modernization program," Brendan O'Connell, president of international business at Harris RF Communications, said.

"These tactical systems will enhance situational awareness and speed decision-making."

Brunei, with a population of just more than 400,000, is on the north coast of the island of Borneo and has a coastline on the South China Sea.

The sultanate occupies around 1 percent of the island and is surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak. It also is separated into two parts by the Sarawak district of Limbang.

Indonesia occupies almost 75 percent of Borneo, to the south of the Malaysian state.

Other recent Asian orders for Harris's Falcon III radios include a $29 million deal from an undisclosed country for its wideband manpack version, announced in early April.

"The nation is acquiring the company's new RF-7800H high-frequency wideband manpack and RF-7800W high-capacity line-of-sight radios," a statement from Harris RF Communications said.

Harris said the RF-7800H is the world's first HF radio with high-speed wideband data capabilities that allows users to efficiently transmit large data files such as images over very long range beyond-line-of-sight links.

The RF-7800H also is 20 percent smaller and lighter, Harris said.

Harris also received a $23 million order from Australia for software upgrades, the company's fiscal 2013 third quarter results statement said.

Harris Corp., which has headquarters Melbourne, Fla., also reported group revenue in the third quarter of fiscal 2013 of $1.2 billion compared with $1.37 billion for the same period 2012.

Revenue in the third quarter for Harris RF Communications division, which makes the Falcon III, was $418 million compared with $538 million in the previous year. Sales of tactical communications were $276 million, a 31 percent drop, and sales of public safety radio equipment totaled $142 million, increasing 2 percent.

Harris operates in more than 125 countries employing about 15,000 people and has annual revenue of around $5.5 billion.

]]> Thu, 23 MAY 2013 23:05:21 AEST Washington (UPI) May 3, 2013 - BlackBerry may lose favor with a big customer -- the U.S. Defense Department -- as department officials say they're considering Apple and Samsung alternatives.

Following a review of Apple and Samsung's software for use on its secure classified and unclassified networks, the department may allow its employees to choose among Samsung and Apple smartphones and tablets for the office, a statement from the agency said.

If that comes to pass it could further weaken BlackBerry's once dominant position among security-conscious government employees, The Washington Post reported Friday.

It is security that has kept BlackBerry popular with businesses and government clients, and its new operating system, BlackBerry 10, received Defense Department approval Thursday.

The State Department, NASA and the Department of Homeland Security have already given their employees approval to use iPhones, iPads and Android devices at work as well as BlackBerry smartphones.

Although the review process could give defense employees the option of using Apple and Samsung devices, it won't guarantee greater sales for any smartphone maker since approvals "do not directly result in product orders but facilitate the process by eliminating the need for security reviews at the individual DoD organization level," a department spokesman said in a statement.

Apple and Samsung declined to comment on the Defense Department's review process, the Post said, and BlackBerry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Apple gains in US smartphone market: report
San Francisco (AFP) May 3, 2013 - Industry tracker comScore on Friday reported that Apple gained ground in the US smartphone market, nibbling into the lead held by handsets powered by Google's Android software.

Apple's share of the US smartphone market climbed nearly three percent to 39 percent in the first three months of this year, making the California company the most popular handset maker in the country, according to comScore.

The Android platform that Samsung, HTC, LG and other manufacturers use to power devices still reigned supreme, but its overall share of the US market slipped 1.4 percent to 54 percent, comScore reported.

Smartphones powered by Microsoft Windows software rose a smidgen to three percent of the market, while the portion held by BlackBerry devices slipped more than a percent to 5.2 percent, according to comScore.

South Korean consumer electronics giant Samsung remained the second most popular smartphone maker with 21.7 percent of the US market, followed by HTC, Motorola and LG with 9 percent, 8.5 percent, and 6.8 percent respectively.

The number of US smartphone owners climbed nine percent to 136.7 during the quarter, comScore reported.

]]> Thu, 23 MAY 2013 23:05:21 AEST Washington DC (SPX) May 01, 2013 - Troops operating in forward locations without telecommunication infrastructure often rely on a mobile ad hoc network (MANET) to communicate and share data. The communication devices troops use on foot or in vehicles double as nodes on the mobile network.

A constraint with current MANETs is they can only scale to around 50 nodes before network services become ineffective. For the past 20 years, researchers have unsuccessfully used Internet-based concepts in attempts to significantly scale MANETs.

DARPA is exploring new technologies unencumbered by Internet Protocols (IP) that could be the key to enabling large MANETs. Although the Internet facilitated far-reaching technical advances, in this technology area the Internet may be the roadblock.

The MANET scaling goals will not be satisfied with incremental improvement using existing protocols and concepts. Truly revolutionary ideas will explore new paradigms that allow users to effectively share information unshackled from existing constraints.

"A MANET of a thousand nodes could support an entire battalion without the need for manual network setup, management and maintenance that comes from 'switchboard'-era communications," said Mark Rich, DARPA Program Manager.

"This could provide more troops with robust services such as real-time video imagery, enhanced situational awareness and other services that we have not yet imagined."

A Request for Information (RFI) released this week calls for research paper abstracts describing bold, new technical approaches to overcoming the MANET scaling problem.

DARPA intends to select innovative and promising concepts to be presented as papers at a symposium entitled, "Novel Methods for Information Sharing in Large-Scale Mobile Ad Hoc Networks," Aug. 7-8, 2013, at the DARPA Conference Center.

For more information on abstract submission and the symposium, view the RFI here.

]]> Thu, 23 MAY 2013 23:05:21 AEST Petah Tikva, Israel (SPX) Apr 25, 2013 - Gilat Satellite Networks reports that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has selected its SatTrooper-1000 military Manpack terminal for advanced tactical field communications.

The Manpack was tailor made to address the unique field requirements of the IDF ground forces.

The SatTrooper-1000 will provide Israeli soldiers with dependable data, video and telephony at broadband speeds. Weighing only 13 kilos, the compact and easy-to-carry terminal is highly efficient and can be set up in minutes by a single warfighter.

The rugged design of the auto pointing antenna enables rapid connectivity even in the harshest environmental conditions.

"Net centric warfare has increased the importance of quick-deploy satellite based communication solutions in today's battle field," said Res. Gen. Moshe (Chico) Tamir, Gilat's Vice President of Defense and Homeland Security.

"Intelligence superiority is a critical necessity on the battle field wherever and whenever required. Our SatTrooper Manpack was built taking into account the harshest and most demanding battle conditions, adhering to the stringent communication requirements of the IDF."

]]> Thu, 23 MAY 2013 23:05:21 AEST Paris (SPX) Apr 19, 2013 - Astrium will soon be able to offer near-global coverage in X-band with the successful entry into service of Skynet 5D and the launch of its hosted payload on Telesat's Anik G1 satellite.

Evert Dudok, CEO of Astrium Services said: "We are the only operator in the world providing near-global coverage reserved exclusively for government and military usage. Reaching from 180 degrees West to 135 degrees East with 75 X-band transponders our constellation has a total of 2.2 GHz - and we now offer more available capacity for our customers."

Astrium Services has a 15 year contract with Telesat for the exclusive use of the X-Band hosted payload. The Anik G1 satellite launched on 16 April from Baikonur is due to be positioned at 107.3 degrees West. It will provide the first commercial X-band coverage across North and Latin America, with substantial coverage of the Pacific Ocean reaching out to Hawaii and Easter Island.

On 2 April, Astrium successfully brought its Skynet 5D satellite into service following its launch on an Ariane 5 in December 2012. It has been positioned over the Middle East at 53 degrees East - taking the place of Skynet 5B - becoming Astrium Services' most active milsatcom satellite. Its larger fuel tanks will enable it to be repositioned more frequently to meet operational needs.

The Skynet fleet now comprises eight satellites: Skynet 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D, combined with three Skynet 4 satellites (C, E and F) and one NATO IV satellite (see below for orbital positions). The 10 UHF channels on Skynet 5D have already been fully sold to customers including Harris CapRock and the Netherland's Ministry of Defence.

Skynet 5 is a highly successful PFI (Private Finance Initiative) programme worth Pounds 4Bn, signed in October 2003 with the UK Ministry of Defence. Through the Skynet concession, Astrium Services operates the Skynet military satellite constellation and the ground network to provide all Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communications to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The PFI has enabled Astrium Services to also provide Skynet-based communication services to other government institutions including the UK Cabinet Office and armed forces from other nations such as US, Canada, Australia and also to NATO.

Colonel Justin Hodges, Deputy Head for the Beyond Line of Sight team at the MOD'S Defence , Equipment and Support Organisation said: "Entry into service of the Skynet 5D is yet another significant milestone in this successful programme. It marks the culmination of a decade of hard work by the MOD's ISS Networks Team and Astrium to provide additional communications capacity for the Armed Forces."

]]> Thu, 23 MAY 2013 23:05:21 AEST Taunton, MA (SPX) Apr 19, 2013 - The General Dynamics-built Warfighter Information Network - Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 2 is now in the hands of soldiers with the U.S. Army's 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.

The soldiers are training for their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan as part of the U.S. military's Security Forces Advise and Assist Team. Once deployed, the soldiers will rely on WIN-T as their on-the-move network, enabling mission command and delivering vital situational awareness that soldiers need during a mission.

Describing the WIN-T system, Lt. Col. Alan Boyer, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, recently said, "I think it will save people's lives in combat. I think it will help us save our partners' lives."

In December 2012, the Army ordered 136 additional WIN-T Increment 2 network nodes. The order will bring the number of WIN-T Increment 2 network nodes to 532, extending the reach of the Army's soldier network to the company level.

Sandra Wheeler, vice president of Tactical Networks for General Dynamics C4 Systems, said, "WIN-T Increment 2 is the secure communications backbone for soldiers and commanders at the company level to connect with each other, access mission-critical situational awareness and stay connected while on the move.

The network also enables company commanders to communicate with higher headquarters in their vehicle, receiving their orders in real-time, which is a game-changing capability."

The Army's Handheld, Manpack, Small Form Fit (HMS) AN/PRC-154 Rifleman and two-channel AN/PRC-154 Manpack radios connect with WIN-T to form secure on-the-go networks, connecting soldiers at the squad level to commanders in their vehicles and up to the highest levels of command.

Similar to the ease of a soldier using their smartphone to connect to the commercial Internet, soldiers use the PRC-154 Rifleman radios to connect to the soldiers' network.

Thoroughly tested by the Army, these radios are part of the Army's Capability Set 13, the first fully integrated suite of network components that are being distributed to parts of the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y., and the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell, Ky.

Led by General Dynamics, the WIN-T network, HMS radio and other Army networking programs rely on support from a diverse group of suppliers. These companies deliver vital technologies and products that support the Army's highest priority, the network.

Located in more than 30 states, these suppliers include small, veteran-owned, woman-owned and other businesses and represent more than 4,800 skilled workers. These suppliers and the employment they represent support local economies and are an essential component to job creation.

Suppliers supporting the Army's networking priorities include: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Md. and Colo.); Thales Communications, Inc. (Md.); Mair Mac Machine Company, Inc. (Mass.); Harris Corporation (Fla.); ACE Electronic Defense Systems (Md); Ritronics, Inc. (Conn.); BAE Systems and Aerospace (N.J.); Newcomb Metal Products (Mass.); Arizona Components Company (Ariz.); L3 Communications (Fla. and Calif.); Wroble Engineering Company (Mass.); The Will-Burt Company (Ohio); Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Iowa); VTron Electronics Corp (Mass.); and Hunter Defense Technologies (Ohio).

]]> Thu, 23 MAY 2013 23:05:21 AEST Subscribe to our daily selection of space, military, environment and energy newsletters responseText http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=0016gbbKsaiGSpQFojVO8ZoHw%3D%3D