Harris Corp/Bae Systems Deploy Tactical Cdl Prototype On U.S.S. Constellation

EDP Weekly's IT Monitor, Nov 26, 2001

Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) and BAE SYSTEMS, representing a world partnership in the development of wideband Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL) solutions, recently announced the successful completion of a six-month prototype deployment of Ku-band TCDL equipment onboard the USS Constellation (CV-64) Battle Group. TCDL is a bi-directional, digital data link with a command and control uplink to air vehicles, and a high bandwidth sensor link from a variety of air vehicles to ground or shipboard operations.

"This is another significant step toward the Harris/BAE SYSTEMS team goal to be the U.S. Navy's supplier of choice for TCDL systems, and our ultimate goal of being the leading wideband tactical communications provider for the DoD," said Bob Henry, president, Harris Government Communications Systems Division (GCSD). "Harris and BAE SYSTEMS believe strongly in this technology and the enhanced capability it brings to the warfighter."

The TCDL prototype systems, installed on H-60 helicopters, successfully passed high-quality, real-time airborne Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) video and voice data at ranges exceeding 70 nautical miles. Throughout the deployment, the TCDL systems were used for developing surface-contact situational awareness and for close, real-time surveillance of specific contacts of interest. The prototype equipment logged more than 300 failure-free hours and was the same equipment utilized for earlier successful interoperability testing with a legacy Ku-Band CDL-N (CHBDL) terminal.

The TCDL deployment began March 16, 2001, with the installation of prototype airborne terminals aboard two SH-60B LAMPS helicopters and CDL Video Interface Units onboard the USS Constellation. This followed various phases of system testing that began in December 2000 with a two-week ground and airborne test period; pier-side flight tests with the CV-64 and at-sea flight tests in January of 2001; and final at-sea, pre-deployment testing in February 2001.

The objective of the PMA299 LAMPS TCDL development program, which these prototype units simulate, is to design, develop, and test a production-ready Ku-Band system for incorporation into Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) MK III H-60 helicopters and their complement of LAMPS-capable surface ships. The TCDL system can transmit over distances greater than 200 kilometers, at a rate of 10.71 megabits per second. Transmissions are received in near real-time at the surface ship via an on-deck terminal, down-converted from Ku-Band to baseband signals, and distributed throughout the ship for further analysis and use.

"In addition to enhancing Battle Group situational awareness, these prototype systems also serve as risk reduction for the LAMPS MK III H-60 TCDL programs and affirm the Navy's and our team's commitment to vendor and hardware interoperability," said Henry.