The mobile command vehicles are designed for use in all types of emergencies where communications restoration and coordinated inter-agency resource deployment are vital. Work on the vehicles will be performed at L-3 Wolf Coach's Auburn, MA, headquarters and is expected to be completed by November, 2006.

As self-contained mobile communications centers with on-board power generation capabilities, the L-3 Wolf Coach MC2 and Sentinel vehicles are rapidly deployed to mission locations to restore communications to disaster areas where the conventional and/or cellular communications infrastructure is inoperative.

The systems establish data connectivity via satellite access and provide telephony through Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). For incident commanders coordinating emergencies, the vehicles establish a base of operation to coordinate the flow of information and personnel deployment, providing connectivity to fixed sites in the chain of command.

In addition, the command centers facilitate interoperable communications between various governmental, law enforcement, rescue/recovery, and disaster relief agencies.

"L-3 Wolf Coach is committed to meeting the needs of the DoD in the area of homeland security and we are honored to provide our mobile communications vehicles in support of coordinated communications and relief efforts in the event of natural disasters, and even potential terrorism events," said Tom Casale, president of L-3 Wolf Coach.

"L-3 Wolf Coach has nearly 40 years of experience addressing the multi-disciplinary engineering challenges required to field a reliable and functional mobile command center to a very demanding customer base. With hundreds of vehicles deployed nationally, most recently in support of Hurricane Katrina relief, we offer proven solutions that deliver performance, durability and efficiency under the most extreme conditions."

The MC2 and Sentinel vehicles draw on a vast array of engineering resources in satellite communications, defense electronics and software and network engineering to meet the challenges of establishing a communications infrastructure at isolated sites.

The vehicles employ a variety of ruggedization and isolation techniques to ensure all telecommunications and power-generation equipment survives and operates with no degradation after thousands of miles of transit, including over roadways of questionable quality.

L-3 Wolf Coach command vehicles are currently in use by numerous state, local and federal government agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)/Rapid Needs Assessment Team; National Guard Civil Support Team; Worcester, MA County Sheriff; New York Police Department; Connecticut State Police; New York State Police; Idaho State Police; Phoenix Police Department Special Operations Unit, and many others.

ith demand on the rise, L-3 Wolf Coach estimates a marketplace of $100 million annually for its command vehicles, and development efforts are underway to enhance vehicle telecommunications electronics, power systems and platforms. Advances are expected to be released later this year.

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