NEW TECHNOLOGIES

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10 Oct 06. Henry Gasbarro, technology guru at Northrop Grumman’s Californian land Systems segment showed BATTLESPACE editor Julian Nettlefold the new prototype rugged tablet computer designed to replace the current V4 models. “This is purely a prototype built to the requirements we foresee for rugged computers of the future,” Gasbarro said. “We are looking to other manufactures such as DRS and GD to manufacture this system. The V6 prototype allows for dismounted use and utilises wireless and satcom, having a built-in satcom antenna. The system allows for dismounted use as well as a vehicle mount. The system is designed to be fully expandable and to support all the elements of the Battle Command Platform requirements. The computer has been enabled for a built-in radio designed by NG subsidiary Radio Systems Inc. out of San Diego. Features of the computer include: Fully Ruggedized; 2 USB Ports; Multiple RS 232; Built-in-satcom; single antenna for satcom and GPS; WiFi; Mesh-Net connectivity; connectivity port to EPLRS Lite.

18 Oct 06. ATL advances to flight tests and ‘first light’. The ATL is a $200m Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) programme funded by the US Department of Defense to integrate a high-energy chemical laser on an aircraft platform. As part of the ACTD, developers have outfitted a C-130H Hercules furnished by the US Air Force 46th Test Wing with a rotating turret. (Source: Jane’s Defence Weekly)

19 Oct 06. Boeing has completed a successful Delta Preliminary Design Review (PDR) of its offering for the Airborne Maritime/Fixed Station Joint Tactical Radio System (AMF JTRS) program. The review measured the program’s progress on development specifications, system design, architecture, key component technologies and risk reduction, Boeing said. Teams led by Boeing and Lockheed Martin are competing for the AMF JTRS system design and development (SDD) contract, which the U.S. Air Force is expected to award early next year. Boeing said the results of its PDR confirmed that it has met the government’s updated requirements for AMF JTRS and is prepared to enter the SDD phase, if chosen. The team displayed mockups of its hardware designs and demonstrated prototype radios running both legacy voice communications and the Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW). Demonstrations ranged from design and development to manufacturing capacity and planning, supply chain management and Interactive Electronic Technical Manual capabilities. The team conducted a multinode networking demonstration using virtual and hardware-based radios. The lab-based demonstrations also featured the WNW and Boeing’s Heterogeneous Networking capability with legacy and low latency edge networking using Rockwell’s Tactical Targeting Networking Technologies. Boeing’s teammates in its AMF JTRS bid include BBN Technologies, Harris, L-3 Communications, Milcom Systems Corp., Northrop Grumman and Rockwell Collins. Lockheed Martin’s industry team includes BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman.

23 Oct 06. The first SAMPSON Multi Function Radar system, designed to give new UK Royal Navy Type 45 Destroyers a world-beating air defence capability, has been despatched from the BAE Systems facility at Cowes and completed installation at the Eskmeals sea-level test site in Cumbria and has now commenced the setting to work phase. The SAMPSON system is the first of a new generation of Multi-Function Radar that provides surveillance, target tracking and missile information for the MBDA Principal Anti-Air Missile System that will be the main armament of the UK Royal Navy Type 45 Destroyers currently in production. Following successful Factory Acceptance Testing at the end of July, the second SAMPSON system has been initially installed on the Longbow Sea Trials Platform in Portsmouth Dockyard. BAE Systems has recently achieved two major milestones in the SAM