Innovative gets $1.1 m to supply PCIDM modem/router cards in support of U.S. Army Aviation - Brief Article

EDP Weekly's IT Monitor, April 28, 2003

U.S. Army Aviation to Use Innovative Concepts, Inc.'s PCIDM to Enable Tactical Data Communications in Its Aviation Mission Planning System (AMPS)

Innovative Concepts, Inc. was selected by US Army Aviation and the Miltope Group Inc. to provide tactical data communications technology as part of the Aviation Mission Planning System. The AMPS system is comprised of the newest Miltope model TSC-750M rugged computer system complete with Innovative Concepts, Inc.'s PCIDM multi-channel tactical data modem/router for communication with SINCGARS radios and AMPS software.

AMPS will allow the Army Aviator to access Joint Common Database data from the Maneuver Control System ("MCS"); receive situational data from the All Source Analysis System ("ASAS"); interact through TACFIRE messages with in-flight OH-58H Kiowa helicopters; and review the latest weather situations from the Integrated Meteorological System ("IMETS"). The technical capabilities of AMPS is the computing system backbone that enables the Army Aviator to access all available information provided by these complex Army information systems. The AMPS will be fielded for all active components and many National Guard aviation units.

Innovative Concepts, Inc.'s PCIDM is an inexpensive PC-Card alternative to the Improved Data Modem (IDM) Avionics device currently in use on all Army Aviation helicopters as well as several hundred NATO and Allied platforms internationally. Fully compatible with all certified versions of IDM Technology, PCIDM allows AMPS to incorporate all IDM functions into Miltope's Microsoft Windows-based rugged computer via a standard Type II PCMCIA card. With the PCIDM, Army personnel can put the TSC-750 computer to effective use as a ground or airborne station host for transmission/reception and routing of C2 messages and situation awareness data, flight-testing data, and mission control, and training data.