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25 Oct 11. Lockheed Martin submits smartphone node and Battle CW for testing. Lockheed Martin IS & GS Defense (LM IS&GS-D) has refined its MONAX (Mobile Network Access) communications network system and submitted it for consideration for inclusion in the US Army’s Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) 12.2 exercise in May 2012. The MONAX system connects a commercial off-the-shelf smartphone to a ground or airborne MONAX XG base station to provide a deployable cellular system that is also interoperable with current military networks. (Source: Jane’s, IDR)
10 Nov 11. The U.S. Army selected a wireless network developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation to participate in the second Network Integration Evaluation (NIE), underway at White Sands Missile Range, N.M, and Fort Bliss, Texas. Northrop Grumman’s Advanced Meshnet Technology (AMT) forms a very high-speed network that provides enhanced situational awareness, communications and command and control capabilities to dismounted soldiers, commander’s vehicles and company-level command posts at the last tactical mile. It works in conjunction with FBCB2 (Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below), a key situational awareness and command-and-control system developed by Northrop Grumman and used by U.S. and coalition forces. More than 100,000 FBCB2 systems have been deployed worldwide. FBCB2 Joint Capabilities Release (JCR) is the next-generation, software-enhanced version of FBCB2, which began fielding to operational units in January 2011.
“FBCB2 JCR brings critical situational awareness and mission command to platforms on the battlefield. Our Advanced Meshnet Technology extends that network to the edge – down to the dismounted soldier in the fight,” said Joe G. Taylor, Jr., Northrop Grumman Information Systems’ vice president for ground combat systems. “Like FBCB2, AMT is reliable, secure, affordable and interoperable with existing systems. Most importantly, its design and operation make it a true mission command enabler.”
10 Nov 11. The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps recently successfully fired the first shots of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS) from a UH-1Y helicopter, in preparation for fielding in 2012. The successful shots, which took place at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons
Division in China Lake, California, Sept. 9-13, mark the start of APKWS testing on the UH-1Y, and are part of the program’s low-rate initial production phase. Developed by BAE Systems in partnership with the U.S. government, the APKWS semi-active laser guidance section integrates with existing 2.75-inch rocket motors and warheads, giving aviators a highly precise weapon that is effective against soft and lightly armored targets while minimizing collateral damage. BAE Systems designed the system’s laser guidance and control section. During the tests, Marine pilots fired a total of six shots from a UH-1Y against
stationary targets with ranges varying from 1.5 to 5 kilometers. The initial shots from UH-1Y mark the first time a MK152 warhead has been fired from any aircraft, allowing safer operation aboard ships than the previous M151 warhead. APKWS brings three essential operational benefits to those in combat. First, the BAE Systems guidance section is designed for compatibility with current 2.75-inch rocket motors, warheads, and fuzes, enhancing the capability of the existing 100,000-unit inventory of unguided rockets. Second, the system provides the lowest collateral damage for precision engagement, while at the same time giving the military greater flexibility to engage the enemy. Finally, the unit cost is on track to meet the Navy’s objective against lower value targets. (Source: ASD Network)
10 Nov 11. Raytheon Company reached a major milestone in its ARC-231 radio program, fielding the 5,000th ARC-231 radio system. ARC-231 is part of the Fire