Like Cubic's original PLS, the purpose of the V12 system is to increase the survivability of downed pilots and rescue crews during military operations. Downed pilots use survival radios to communicate with Cubic's PLS systems to enable combat search-and-rescue crews to locate and extract them quickly and without detection by enemy forces.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Special Operations Command will be the first customer to receive the V12 system, which features improved voice and text messaging capabilities.
Cubic's Communications & Electronics Business Unit recently delivered two prototype systems to the UAE, which ordered a total of 28 units for installation aboard Puma helicopters used for combat search and rescue.
The new V12 PLS system replaces a Cubic-designed system dating from 1987.
The smaller, lighter and more powerful V12 system includes extended and improved voice communications over the entire UHF spectrum; highly accurate azimuth measurements from a new DF Antenna; backward interoperability with all standard emergency beacons; plus new data features that allow two-way text messaging and GPS location from new-generation survival radios like General Dynamics' PRC-112G HOOK Radio and Boeing's PRQ-7 CSEL radio.
Craig Campbell, director of Avionics Advanced Development for Cubic, said the orders from the UAE represent the beginning of a worldwide transition from Cubic's original PLS to the new V12 system. Cubic's original PLS has been the standard combat search-and-rescue system for the U.S. and NATO armed forces for many years.
"We've delivered the original PLS systems to customers all over the world, and they've flown in every global military engagement from 1987 to the present," Campbell said. "Our new system is compatible with previous-generation PLS systems and radios, but is also interoperable with the latest generation of combat search-and-rescue radios."
In addition to the UAE SOC, Cubic is under contract with U.S. military customers to provide several Engineering Development Models (EDM) of the V12 for integration into specific aircraft.