 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . |  |
. |
Northrop Grumman Awarded DARPA Contract To Design Hybrid Optical/RF Communications Network
Linthicum MD (SPX) May 05, 2008 Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $46.1 million contract by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for the Optical RF Communications Adjunct (ORCA) project, an all-weather, high connectivity, jam resistant, high bandwidth network. "This program is extremely important for the warfighter. ORCA will develop and demonstrate a critical component needed to ensure all of our mobile forces access to reliable, affordable, and secure high capacity network connectivity," said Chuck Brinkman, sector vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Advanced Concepts and Technologies Division. ORCA will address the U.S. military's increasing requirements for transmitting and receiving voice, image, video and other critical data simultaneously among dismounted and maneuvering forces, airborne assets, and upper command echelons. This large amount of tactical data is straining the capacity of ground and satellite communications systems currently in use. Under the one-year cost plus fixed fee contract, the company will develop and demonstrate a prototype tactical network that uses both free space optical (FSO) and radio frequency (RF) links. The company will also provide a "leave behind" capability for the warfighter. The DARPA project is being led by the company's Electronic Systems sector under the contract administration of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). Its team members include L3 Communications (Communications Systems - West Division), Salt Lake City; AOptix Technologies, Campbell, Ca.; and Johns Hopkins University - Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Md. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Read the latest in Military Space Communications Technology at SpaceWar.com
Work Continues On New Satellite Communications Antenna System For B-2 Bomber
Atlanta GA (SPX) May 02, 2008EMS Technologies has announced its latest contract, valued at $13 million, from Northrop Grumman for the new extremely high frequency (EHF) satellite communications system for the U.S. Air Force's B-2 stealth bomber. Under a planned upgrade program, the new EHF system will allow the B-2 to send and receive battlefield information up to 100 times faster than its current ultra-high frequency (UHF) satellite communications system. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
