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INVISIO Unveils New Ultimate Warfighter Hub and PTT

Monday, May 8th, 2023

INVISIO today announces its latest development in mission critical communications – the INVISIO V60 Gen II ADP – an advanced PTT and warfighter hub that bridges audio, data, and power. It provides more functionality and flexibility whilst integrating systems and data to reduce the number of devices carried by dismounted soldiers.

The V60 II ADP builds on previous iterations of INVISIO’s V-Series, adding the capability to enable audio cues from EUD (End User Device) to headset, as well as distributing power to EUDs or other devices. This reduces cables, devices, and complexity.

The new addition to the INVISIO family has the same capabilities as the INVISIO V-Series Gen II which delivers market-leading double hearing protection of 42dB SNR / 34dB NNR with hear-through capability, as well as automatic adjustment of volume from received audio to surrounding sound levels. It also uses AI and digital signal processing to filter out noise and increase speech intelligibility by 30 per cent, key factors in increasing situational awareness and reducing fatigue.

The system is MIL SPEC compliant and proven to withstand extreme environments, from high altitudes and low temperatures to extreme heat, as well as being fully submersible to 20m for two hours.

In the latest ground-breaking development by INVISIO, the V60 II ADP has the capability to bridge audio and data, allowing audio cues to be delivered to a headset from an EUD, creating an even more agile communications solution in the field. Like its predecessors, the system is modular, giving flexibility to the user on the ground and the ability to cater for varying requirements based on situation and power needs, all while adding a unique interface between data and audio.

“INVISIO’s digitalization of traditional systems continues its ongoing work to modernize communications in the battlefield,” says Jakob Novrup Bengtson, Product Manager at INVISIO. “The latest addition to our range of tactical communication systems bridges the gap between audio and data, creating a fast, agile, and data-driven solution for dismounted troops on the ground.

“We have listened to feedback from our customers on what users need, and that is reduced burden – fewer devices, fewer cables, and flexible, integrated systems that make communication easier than ever, no matter what environment they are in. The result is the V60 II ADP.

“This will have a hugely positive impact for our customers and marks the next step in the digitalization of battlefield communication.”

The V60 II ADP offers:

•The ultimate warfighter hub: Bridging audio, data, and power for more capabilities with less devices

•Reduced burden: Less cables, devices, less weight and complexity

•Rugged and combat proven: MIL-SPEC compliant and proven by SOF globally.

•Mission adaptive: Volume from received audio is automatically adjusted to surrounding sound level.

•Flexible and intuitive: Limitless configurations, making Gen II suitable for all scenarios, and VOX functionality and voice prompts for intuitive operations.

•INVISIO Audio™: AI and digital signal processing to filter out noise and increase speech intelligibility by 30 per cent.

•Market-leading hearing protection: Increased protection levels and option of double hearing protection with hear-through at a market-leading 42 dB SNR / 34 dB NNR attenuation.

INVISIO has a proven track record of developing industry-leading solutions for the most demanding elite units in the world, using extensive research and feedback to create systems and products that will solve problems and improve communication.

The ADP will be announced on May 8 in connection with SOF Week in Tampa, Florida. Visit INVISIO at booth #1152 or go directly to their yacht “Reel Blonde” for a live demo. Alternatively, for more information, visit Invisio.com or contact info@invisio.com or your local INVISIO sales representative.

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Somewear Labs Introduces A Novel Hybrid Mesh/Satcom Radio and Expands Communications Platform

Monday, May 8th, 2023

Node is a first-of-its-kind multi-networking device delivering a powerful combination of mesh radio and satellite capabilities for teams operating in diverse field environments

San Francisco, CA (May 2nd, 2023) — Somewear Labs, the technology company enabling critical communications for defense, public safety and commercial teams, has announced the launch of the first multi-network device of its kind: Node. Node will revolutionize the ability for mission teams to communicate and coordinate during dynamic operations, providing a level of reliability, security, and efficient situational awareness that was previously unattainable.

The innovative pocket-sized Node features novel automation to route data via the efficiency of mesh radio technology or the resilience of satellite connectivity. Group communications within range of Nodes are powered by Node’s encrypted, low latency mesh network. In the event a team member falls outside of the range of Node’s powerful mesh network, Node autonomously delivers inbound and outbound data via the built in satellite link. Years in development, Somewear Labs’ Node ensures continuous team communication regardless of mission needs or operating environment.

Building upon the network redundancy of Node is Somewear’s introduction of SmartBackhaul™ – the latest evolution of Somewear’s proprietary data routing software. SmartBackhaul™ intelligently routes data across the mesh network to Nodes that have the best satellite or cellular connectivity to serve as the most optimal backhauls. The advent of Node with SmartBackhaul™ technology eliminates the need for mission teams to establish and stay in range of fixed infrastructure for a dedicated backhaul. Each team member carrying a lightweight Node can serve as a reliable and dynamic backhaul, allowing the agility for mission teams to establish uninterrupted connectivity regardless of location, including in indoor and subterranean environments.

“Node was a result of years of close collaboration with our customers,” said James Kubik, CEO of Somewear Labs. “The success of our platform and features like SmartRouting across cellular and satellite demonstrated our customers desire for a unified experience across all of their networks. Node is a massive leap forward in unifying communications through one platform, Somewear Grid, and ensuring continuous situational awareness in any environment.”

Node is available for preorder for teams of all sizes. For more information, please visit our website at www.somewearlabs.com, or contact us directly at hello@somewearlabs.com.

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Army’s Air Assault Division Ushers in Network Paradigm for Tomorrow’s Battlefield

Saturday, May 6th, 2023

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — The Screaming Eagles are experimenting with the latest iteration of modernized Army communications capabilities, both at home and abroad, to help guide development of technologies, doctrine, and policy.

Supporting the Army’s process of using Soldier feedback and lessons-learned to enhance the network, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), or 3-101, recently completed an Integrated Tactical Network validation exercise at their home station, while elements of the Division are using additional capabilities while deployed to Romania.

Since its introduction to Soldiers in 2019, the Integrated Tactical Network, or ITN, has been providing secure but unclassified and encrypted mobile network communications that increase communications mobility, flexibility and resiliency. As part of division-centric network design efforts, the Army will simplify the network at brigade and below levels to support the Army’s Division as Unit of Action plan, which will elevate network-related complexity to the division echelon, freeing up maneuver units to focus on the fight.

“We are asking ourselves, what does that division commander need in order to command his division and all his forces, so we are designing the next capabilities to be centered around the division as unit of action,” said Col. Shermoan Daiyaan, Project Manager for Tactical Radios, under Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications-Tactical.

The key to refining ITN capabilities at all echelons is through continued fielding, Soldier feedback and iterative improvements, providing more units across the globe with hands-on, real-world experiences using the capability. The Army will use this feedback to inform Army of 2030 network designs, centered on large-scale combat operations.

So far, the ITN has been fielded to multiple infantry brigade combat teams across the 82nd Airborne Division, 25th Infantry Division, 11th Airborne Division and one Stryker unit, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, with additional BCT and division enabler fieldings underway or planned for the remainder of FY23 and FY24.

The 82nd Airborne Division, as an early ITN adopter, will be the first full division equipped with ITN, followed by the 101st and 1st Cavalry Division.

“The ITN is going to give our commander better situational awareness of what’s going on across the battlefield,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Craig Alhouse, brigade network operations officer with the 3-101. “Whether we’re doing a forcible entry or an airfield seizure, what’s different is what’s displayed and how the commander reaches out to the subordinate and tells them what he needs them to accomplish.”

That also would give the commander more informed decision abilities in the long run, he said.

The thrust of the validation exercise featured individual Soldiers using the full ITN suite, including leader radios connected to their end-user devices to send text messages up to the brigade level, which then compiled operational graphics to send up to the nationalized higher headquarters over the Secret network.

With options for assured voice, text and graphics communications over several channels, the ITN provides multiple paths for communications, even in network-degraded environments.

“I think one of the things we noticed with ITN is that it removes the ability to say you didn’t get that message,” said Capt. John Dacier, 3-101 Brigade Assistant S3. “You have a plethora of ways to communicate all the way down to the granular level.”

The pathway providing seamless two-way communications is the Secure But Unclassified-Encrypted, or SBU-E, enclave. Since the ITN’s initial fielding, SBU-E has been used at the battalion and below level, with division headquarters and enablers communication at the mostly Secret level. Because communications are encrypted, SBU-E provides appropriate levels of security for safe mission partner collaboration without the complexity of setting up a secret environment.

As part of assessments that will inform division-centric design, the 82nd Airborne Division is nearly exclusively employing SBU-E at its Joint Readiness Training Command rotation this spring. The 25th Infantry Division is also incorporating SBU-E during this spring and summer’s multi-national Pacific Pathways exercises across Hawaii, the Philippines, Indonesia and Australia, providing the Army with even more critical feedback.

“Island hopping experimentation using SBU-E in the Pacific, and in the European theater, is critical for the Army to prepare for future conflicts because we will never fight alone,” said Daiyaan. “That’s real combat power at the tactical edge.”

Technology enhancements aside, Army leaders may consider policy changes to implement the proliferation of SBU-E network communications at battalion and below, which is a consideration for the next round of capabilities in 2025.

“We are looking at different courses of action to reduce that complexity at brigade and below levels, so if policy allows mission partner environment data exchange in SBU-E we could certainly reduce complexity because there’s fewer domains and enclaves,” said Matt Maier, Project Manager for Interoperability, Integration and Services, under Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications-Tactical.

In addition to exchanging operational graphics and position location information with Romanians inside of the mission partner environment, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is employing a simplified data plan focused on data security and credential management identification while deployed in Europe.

“Once you secure data, then you don’t necessarily have to secure the network all the time, [which adds] a layer of complexity,” said Lt. Col. (P) Randy Linnemann, 101st Airborne Division G6. “While we’ve been here, we made progress replicating a lot of our Army mission command information systems into a cloud environment.”

The 101st Airborne, along with the 4th Infantry Division and on a larger scale I Corps, has piloted data and cloud capabilities as part of the Army’s overarching data-centric networked environment experimentation.

“ITN brings [the ability] to pull that data from the edge up to the headquarters, process it at the headquarters and then deliver refined data back down to the edge,” Linneman said. “So we’ve become much more effective, pushing our data exchanges down to the lowest level so that we get the best data going through the chain of command, enabling more rapid and better decision making at every echelon.”

Leveraging the cloud to leave behind cumbersome network equipment, which can be vulnerable to damage due to the elements, also been a game changer, according to Linneman.

“Not having to run that equipment there with us has led us to actually have a higher reliability rate then we would have had running it on premise,” Linnemann said. “Having our data available to us everywhere we go in the world [in the cloud] is really kind of what we’re looking at.”

Army network developers are taking this feedback and incorporating it into cloud-native command post options for Army of 2030 network designs.

Over the next several months, the Army is working plans to simplify and adapt the network foundation for 2030, while enabling design and requirements to support Army of 2040.

As the Army moves forward with its preliminary design process for FY25 network design, it will also take lessons learned from previous, current and future laboratory and operational exercises to meet Division as Unit of Action requirements.

“Working with the 101st is our first opportunity to identify how we can move the complexity up to Division to meet Army 2030 imperatives,” Maier said. “Lessons learned and iterative improvements are the only way we get good at this, which is why we talk to units and pull them into the conversation early and often.”

By Kathryn Bailey, PEO C3T

Posted in Army, Comms, Guest Post | 3 Comments »

Spectra Group Successfully Delivers Live SlingShot Demonstrations to US DOD and Deepens its US Engagement

Friday, May 5th, 2023

Spectra Group, a specialist provider of secure voice, data and satellite communications systems, in partnership with Inmarsat, has this spring successfully demonstrated cross-country, multi-site tactical communications of Inmarsat’s L-TAC service to the US Department of Defence (USDOD) using their award-winning SlingShot system, which follows on from previous successful Battlelab and end-user experiments outside USSOCOM.

SlingShot has been widely adopted and is operationally proven by USSOCOM with over 4000 units deployed. Over the last year, Spectra Group has been broadening and deepening its engagement with the US military, demonstrating the wide range and utility of the SlingShot system when combined with existing in-service radios and the Inmarsat L-Tac service. Spectra Group participated in the US Army’s Fires Center of Excellence Battle Laboratory “MFIX 2022” in late 2022. This experiment utilized the currently fielded SINGARS VHF radios, AFATADS digital transmission devices and paired with Spectra’s SlingShot system using the Inmarsat L-TAC service. The LRPF Battle Lab conducted hundreds of digital “Calls for Fire” in 2 days over vast ranges. The experiments proved that Forward Observer teams over 600miles away could still rapidly deliver precision fires over existing VHF radios, with SlingShot fitted, delivering lethal effect within 90-120 seconds. The addition of the operationally proven SlingShot’s system as a bolt on capability enhancement, allows traditional manoeuvre formations to engage threats at vast ranges previously unimagined without replacing its communications infrastructure.

The recent USDOD multi-site demonstration was conducted from Reston, Virginia, as well as locations in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Fort Liberty, North Carolina. The L-TAC service combined with SlingShot delivers global, satellite-based beyond line of sight (BLOS) communications at fixed sites and on the move (COTM) for Ultra High Frequency (UHF) and Very High Frequency (VHF) radio users. A key component of the demonstration was to prove the ability of SlingShot, fitted to existing radios and using L-TAC, to augment existing DOD UHF SATCOM capabilities globally by scaling to many users over a vast coverage area. This included the ability to extend all L-TAC nets to dislocated, major headquarters locations that could be anywhere in the world utilizing digital, RF-Over-IP technology.

The enthusiasm to trial the SlingShot system extended to 1st Marine Division based in California, when they wished to exercise the vast ranges associated with their Indopacific area of operations, by combining the exercise with one of their new littoral regiments based in Japan. Again, this experiment proved the ability of SlingShot fitted to existing in-service radios to allow Commander’s to communicate securely while on the move and well beyond line of sight of others. Additionally, the employment of SlingShot provided un-paralleled interoperability of tactical UHF and VHF frequency radios with a minimum training burden.

Simon Davies, CEO of Spectra Group said: “We are very proud of Slingshot’s operational pedigree and how successful it has been in solving the communications challenges faced by both specialist and regular forces when deployed globally in austere locations. These experiments continue to prove the true ease and utility of SlingShot combined with the Inmarsat L-TAC service to deliver secure voice, data and text at scale on any legacy system for the USDOD anywhere in the world.”

Posted in Comms, Press Release | 1 Comment »

U.S. Army Awards TRX Systems $402 Million Production Contract for DAPS GEN II

Thursday, May 4th, 2023

The DAPS GEN II systems developed and delivered by TRX will provide Assured PNT to warfighters, enabling seamless dismounted operations in GPS-denied environments.

GREENBELT, MD. MAY 04, 2023

TRX Systems has been awarded a $402 Million, seven-year, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract by the U.S. Army for the procurement of Dismounted Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing System Generation II systems and services (DAPS GEN II). The award to TRX is a Program of Record contract from the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (PEO IEW&S) for delivery of systems that provide Assured PNT to Soldiers operating in GPS denied or contested environments.

The TRX Systems solution to be provided under the contract, known as TRX DAPS II, enables dismounted maneuver operations with speed, surprise, and agility, even where GPS is compromised or denied. TRX DAPS II provides Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) to dismounted users by disseminating assured position and time to dependent devices in GPS challenged environments. Reliable PNT is essential to the positioning of forces, navigation, communication networks, situational awareness applications, and systems related to protection, surveillance, and targeting; it is critical for Army Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) in contested areas and for the Brigade Combat Team (BCT) and their supporting units.

Designed to replace the Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR) for Dismounted Soldiers with Nett Warrior (NW), TRX DAPS II fuses inputs from M-code GPS, inertial sensors, and complementary PNT sources to determine the integrity of positioning, navigation, and timing sources and deliver assured PNT. It is a small, lightweight PNT device that supports both standalone operation and integration with the NW ensemble, and it can distribute PNT information to a customized tactical watch. The TRX DAPS II solution employs a modular architecture and adheres to Army PNT interface standards, facilitating the addition of new PNT sensors as threats evolve.

In 2021, TRX was selected by the U.S. Army to deliver a DAPS GEN 1.2 solution via a Quick Reaction Capability (QRC) and began shipping devices in volume in 2022 – less than 8 months after the award. Building on the success of the QRC program, after thousands of hours of field testing and incorporation of hundreds of additional Project Manager, Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PM PNT) requirements, the next generation of dismounted Soldier navigational tools, TRX DAPS II, will be in production for the Army later this year.

“Warfighters can be subjected to enemy electronic attacks that degrade their access to reliable position and time, putting their operation and safety at risk,” said Carol Politi, President of TRX Systems. “The Assured PNT information provided by TRX DAPS II will secure dismounted Army forces’ ability to shoot, move, and communicate in GPS challenged environments.”

Posted in Army, Comms, Contracts, Press Release | 2 Comments »

Freedom Atlantic Awarded Contract for Radio Cables

Thursday, May 4th, 2023

Austin, TX – Freedom Atlantic, Inc. a Defense Communications company, announced today that it has been awarded a $1.2M contract for its specialty cable which connects a Program of Record Tactical Radio directly to the End User Device (Samsung Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition). After thorough evaluation and testing, Freedom Atlantic’s approach was selected to solve the end user requirement of ensuring robust connectivity between these two mission-critical devices. Freedom Atlantic’s products are engineered to provide the highest level of reliability for end users’ communication equipment in harsh and demanding environments where they serve and protect our freedom.

“In today’s changing landscape, it is imperative that we continue to move quickly in developing seamless solutions that plug in and just work.” said David Martschinske, Freedom Atlantic’s VP of Product Development. “We are singularly focused on delivering reliable and cost-effective solutions to ensure that the end user maintains their situational awareness and dominance at the tactical edge.”

Posted in Comms, Contracts, Press Release | 1 Comment »

OTTO Announces the Launch of the First Tactical Spatial Audio Solution for the Dismounted Warfighter

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023

Push-to-talk (PTT) switch provides game-changing multi-talker communication capabilities for high-stress combat environments.

Carpentersville, Ill. (May 1, 2023) OTTO Engineering announced the launch of the first tactical spatial audio product for dismounted warfighters. E.S.P. (Enhanced Spatial Positioning) is a push-to-talk (PTT) switch designed for dynamic environments and the needs of individual operators. The solution was developed to enable users to mentally focus on an individual positional audio source, even if other channels are active simultaneously.

In high-stress environments, traditional audio traffic from multiple sources can compete in the tactical operator’s ear, leading to auditory overload and retention loss. Spatial Positioning creates separation and provides mental clarity.

Independent testing published by the Audio Engineering Society (AES) on the occurrence of attention redirection and speech intelligibility in multi-talker communication confirms that spatial separation of audio can reduce cognitive load and help operators maintain situational awareness.

“In a natural listening environment, the human auditory system uses cues to localize and externalize sound sources. When listening, we can discern the sound source, where it’s coming from, and when multiple sources are presented concurrently. We’re able to attend to a specific source through what is called the ‘cocktail party effect,’” says Dan Stanek, Vice President and General Manager of OTTO’s Communications division. Stanek continues, “This is the ability of the brain to focus on a specific source in the presence of other competing sources, such as when a person is in a noisy room at a cocktail party. Audio segregation like this occurs because of several factors, but the strongest is the distinct spatial location of the independent audio sources.”

Designed to address those dynamics, E.S.P. applies spatial positioning as a tactical edge by funneling audio streams into four distinct channels heard around your head. The operator hears each channel distinctly from Left, Left-Front, Right-Front, and Right associating a physical position with each unique audio source. This untangles competing audio streams and increases comprehension so warfighters can maintain situational awareness and focus on mission objectives.

This first-of-its-kind solution is compatible with major radio platforms and offers modular compatibility with vehicular and airbase intercoms (ICS). E.S.P. meets MIL-STD-810G specifications and is software/firmware upgradeable allowing for future channel position options, ATAK PTT functionality, and more.

The E.S.P (Enhanced Spatial Positioning) PTT is available now from OTTO Communications. Contact GovTeam@ottoexcellence.com today for more information or a demonstration.

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GA-ASI Flies MQ-20 Avenger Autonomously Using LEO SATCOM Data Link

Wednesday, April 19th, 2023

SAN DIEGO – 11 April 2023 – On April 6, 2023, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) conducted live, tactical, air combat maneuvers using Artificial Intelligence (AI) pilots to control a company-owned MQ-20 Avenger® Unmanned Aircraft System. Collaborative maneuvers between human and AI pilots were conducted using GA-ASI’s Live, Virtual, Constructive (LVC) collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) ecosystem over a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communication (SATCOM) provider’s IP-based Mission Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) datalink. The LEO SATCOM connection was also used to rapidly retrain and redeploy AI pilots while the aircraft was airborne, demonstrating GA-ASI’s ability to update AI pilots within minutes.

This marks the first deployment of a LEO SATCOM provider connections running on an operationally relevant unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) platform. The team used two L3Harris Technologies RASOR Multi-Functional Processors (MFPs) – one that housed the transceiver card and another that controlled the BLOS Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA). The test aircraft was outfitted with a Ball Aerospace BLOS AESA system, capable of full duplex operation. The demonstration highlighted GA-ASI’s commitment to operationalizing CCA by fusing innovative future warfare technologies, such as GA-ASI’s AI pilots and LVC ecosystem, and L3Harris and Ball Aerospace BLOS datalink solutions.

“The flight demonstrated GA-ASI’s unmatched ability to fly autonomy on real, tactically relevant, unmanned combat aerial vehicles,” said GA-ASI Senior Director of Advanced Programs Michael Atwood. “It displayed effective BLOS Command and Control through the collaboration between three defense primes. This showcases our rapidly maturing CCA mission system suite and moves us one step closer to providing this revolutionary capability to the warfighter.”

GA-ASI leveraged its end-to-end CCA ecosystem for the flight that fused third-party capabilities, human-on-the-loop control, and autonomy to enable effective human-machine teaming for 21st century conflicts. Operator commands were captured via hands on throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) controls and were sent via LEO SATCOM to AI pilots running Reinforcement Learning (RL) algorithms. AI pilots autonomously tracked and maneuvered around dynamically, and updated entities specified via HOTAS. Operators were provided updates from AI pilots on a cockpit heads-up display and could dynamically re-task via HOTAS as the mission evolved. In addition, data from agent performance was collected and sent to the ground where agents were retrained to improve performance, and then redeployed via LEO SATCOM in a matter of minutes.

This is another in an ongoing series of technology insertion and autonomous flights performed using internal research and development funding to prove out important concepts for UAS.

www.ga-asi.com

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