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HENSOLDT Integrates NH90 and TIGER Helicopters into Modern Data Link Network for “Timber Express 2023”

Tuesday, November 14th, 2023

Digital multi-domain communication put to the test

Immenstaad, 13 November 2023 – As part of the German Armed Forces’ “Timber Express 2023” exercise, sensor solution provider HENSOLDT has connected several flying platforms via data link and networked them with modern information systems. Using the EUA OPTARION mission support system, situational information could be reliably communicated between the NH90 and TIGER helicopters and other platforms such as the Tornado multi-role combat aircraft and the 2000 self-propelled howitzer without any changes to the aircraft. For the first time, the data was also continuously synchronised with the Bundeswehr’s new command information system.

“With the mission support system, we are able to integrate both existing and new platforms into the armed forces’ digital command and control network without any changes to the aircraft,” says Alex Irmscher, programme manager for ground stations at HENSOLDT. “We are working continuously with the Army Air Corps and the German Air Force to further advance command and control capabilities in the area of airborne systems and anchor them operationally alongside exercises.”

The advantages that the EUA OPTARION offers its users were successfully demonstrated for the third time as part of “Timber Express 2023”. As a link between reconnaissance and operational elements, relevant data could be communicated digitally along the sensor-to-effector chain. This interaction forms the basis for efficient command and control and the deployment of armed forces in an interoperable information and communication network.

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Suunto Wing

Friday, November 3rd, 2023

Suunto recently launched the Wing, an open-ear sports headphone which utilizes bone conduction via the jaw bone so your ears aren’t covered. Looping over the ear, the band is semi-rigid and won’t fall off while engaging in sport activities. Bluetooth enabled, it connects to your end user device.

Waterproof to IP67, Wing boasts a 10 hour battery life. The included power bank offers 20 more hours and a 10-minute quick charge gives you three hours of listening.

Additionally, there are lights along the side for visibility while running which can be set on/off or in blink mode.

It also features a microphone. A cool feature is that you can answer or hang up on calls with head gestures. Similarly, you can interact with your play list.

www.suunto.com/en-us/Products/Other-accessories/suunto-wing/suunto-wing-black

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Fischer Connectors’ Versatile and Miniature UHD Audio/Video Connectivity Solutions Allow for 18 Gbit/s Data Transfer Speed

Thursday, November 2nd, 2023

Saint-Prex, Switzerland | November 2, 2023 – Fischer Connectors has released new high-speed connectors and cable assemblies for Ultra High Definition (UHD) audio/video data transfer at 18 Gbit/s in demanding environments, matching the performance speed of HDMI 2.0.

“The speed of our audio/video connectivity solutions, 18 Gbit/s, is equivalent to the HDMI 2.0 standard widely used in 4K cinema projectors and Ultra High Definition home TVs,” explains Stéphane Antonetti, Product Data Expert at Fischer Connectors. “Because Fischer Connectors’ circular connectors are rugged by design, they combine the best of both worlds, providing design engineers with a versatile portfolio of high-speed, high-performance connectivity solutions for a wide range of harsh-environment applications.”

Fischer Connectors’ new UHD solutions are available in the flagship Fischer MiniMax™ and Fischer Core product lines with 10’000 mating cycles, 360° EMI protection, different sealing performances from IP68 to hermeticity and sterilization capacities, as well as three locking mechanisms (push-pull, screw, quick-release).

Fischer MiniMax™ UHD connectors available in ‘size 08’ (12.9 mm diameter plug) have a miniature, lightweight, compact, high-density layout with 19 contacts, ensuring high-quality data transmission for digital signals in demanding applications such as aerial imaging, especially in military operations for drones equipped with high-resolution cameras.

UHD audio/video connectivity is also needed in scientific, industrial, instrumentation, test and measurement and medical applications with 4K camera devices, where Fischer Core connectors are widely used, e.g., in size 104 with 20 contacts.

A dedicated, custom cable has been developed for both Fischer Core and Fischer MiniMax™ UHD audio/video connectors, which are also available pre-cabled as plug-and-play solutions.

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General Dynamics Receives NSA Certification for First TACLANE E-Series Ethernet Encryptor

Monday, October 30th, 2023

The TACLANE-ES10 (KG-185A) is the only tactical, high-speed Layer 2 Ethernet Data Encryption Cryptographic Interoperability Specification (EDE-CIS) compliant solution available today.

FAIRFAX, Va. – General Dynamics Missions Systems announced today that the National Security Agency (NSA) has certified the TACLANE-ES10 (KG-185A) encryptor to protect information classified Top Secret and below transmitted across Layer 2 Ethernet networks. As the first High Assurance EDE-CIS product in the TACLANE E-Series portfolio, the TACLANE-ES10 supports data rates up to 10 Gigabits per second (Gb/s) in each direction and is ruggedized and SWaP-C optimized for both data center and tactical uses. It is designed to support Key Management Infrastructure (KMI) and will support Preplaced Keys (PPK) capabilities in the next release.

“Customers are demanding higher bandwidth and increased performance in crypto solutions to maintain superiority over adversaries in an increasingly challenging threat environment,” said Stephen Marker, vice president of the Secure Networks, Voice and Computing business area in General Dynamics Mission Systems’ Cyber Systems line of business. “The now certified TACLANE-ES10 meets NSA’s EDE-CIS specifications and will carry through to all TACLANE E-Series products, helping customers save time and money by eliminating the need to retrofit outdated hardware that cannot be upgraded to meet the latest EDE-CIS specifications.”

As previously announced, NSA awarded General Dynamics the contract to design, develop and test a certifiable, EDE-CIS compliant High Assurance encryption solution. The TACLANE-ES100 (KGV-185B) and TACLANE-ES400 (KGV-185C) will soon follow the TACLANE-ES10, supporting up to 100 Gb/s and 400 Gb/s full-duplex throughput respectively.

“We built the TACLANE E-Series with the customer and their mission in mind,” said Todd Warton, vice president of sales and marketing. “We’re excited to be helping customers accelerate their adoption of Layer 2 Ethernet encryption and offer an infrastructure of customer support including onsite product training and solution architect services.”

TACLANE E-Series encryptors are manageable by the GEM® One Encryptor Manager software. Please contact the Cyber Systems team for any product inquires, pricing and/or delivery.

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US Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center Selects Persistent Systems for 10X Robotics/AI Program

Friday, October 27th, 2023

October 25, 2023

Manned-unmanned teaming effort follows prior 10X in which company provided critical network

Persistent Systems, LLC (“Persistent”), a leader in mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) technology, was one of eight organizations selected by the National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC) to support them in the execution of the U.S. Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) Task Request 22 Robotics and Artificial Intelligence 10X Dismounted Infantry Platoon, a program set to end in a technology demonstration in September 2024, in Fort Moore, Ga.

Managed by NAMC, this 10X program aims to make Army infantry platoons 10 times more effective through the testing of select unmanned vehicles and other systems in a simulated urban environment—with Persistent Systems providing the data-agnostic, high-throughput IP communications backbone.

“We are very excited to, once again, be supporting 10X,” said Jeffrey Washington, Director for Business Development, U.S. Army/UGVs, at Persistent Systems. “We see our selection by the GVSC’s Dismounted Robotic Systems branch as a vote of confidence in the communications and support work we did during the previous 10X effort, which wrapped up with a demonstration in September 2022.”

During that prior effort, which had forces employ a mix of unmanned systems and other technology to cross an open area, the Persistent Systems Wave Relay® MANET established vital command-and-control links, while the company’s Cloud Relay™ beyond-line-of-sight capability helped developers remotely address software issues on third party platforms.

This time around, there will be even more equipment to network and an urban environment to consider. Still, company officials say they’re up for the job. “Our MANET is self-forming, self-healing, and highly scalable,” said Washington. “We’ve worked with a wide range of platform partners, and in the past, we have scaled up our network to link hundreds of nodes.”

Posted in Army, Comms, Contracts, Press Release, Robotics | Comments Off on US Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center Selects Persistent Systems for 10X Robotics/AI Program

Fischer KEYSTONE Tactical Hub: Expanded Cable Assembly Portfolio Connects More Soldier Digital Gear

Wednesday, October 25th, 2023

Saint-Prex, Switzerland | October 25, 2023 – Fischer Connectors released an expanded set of cable assemblies for the KEYSTONE tactical hub, including three cables for L3 Harris, Silvus and Bittium tactical radios and two device cables for Safran Vectronix’s MOSKITO TI target locator and STERNA True North Finder.

Designed to US Army Next Generation Hub (NGH) standards, Fischer KEYSTONE™ gives dismounted soldiers an easy way to manage the flows of data (USB 2.0 and SMBus) and power (100 W – 5 A max) between sights, sensors, night vision devices, radios and digital equipment.

“Reliable, simple, does what it’s expected to do: that’s the feedback we receive from customers who have field-tested Fischer KEYSTONE,” explains Olivier Thormann, Product Manager for Fischer KEYSTONE. “Soldiers already know how to use it – they clip it on, plug it in, and it just works.”

More extensions to the Fischer KEYSTONE tactical connectivity solution are coming in 2024. The next KEYSTONE hub – Fischer KEYSTONE™ 4 – is a 4-port hub designed for soldiers who need only basic power and data connections. KEYSTONE 4 will be showcased on Fischer Connectors stand 5 L 085 at Milipol in Paris, France, from 14 to 17 November 2023.

>> Full technical specifications in Fischer KEYSTONE™ Tactical Connectivity Solution

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StarWin and Avanti Bring Ground-Breaking SatCom on the Move to Africa

Thursday, October 19th, 2023

StarWin and Avanti Communications welcome new era of mobility with successful testing of COTM Solution on HYLAS 4 Satellite

LONDON, 17 OCTOBER 2023 – StarWin, today announces that it has successfully tested its Electronically Steered Phased Array Antenna (ESA) terminal for Communications on the Move (COTM) on Avanti Communications’ (“Avanti”) high-speed HYLAS 4 Ka-band satellite.

This ground-breaking achievement is a significant milestone for mobile satellite communications that will provide seamless broadband connectivity for government, military, and enterprise customers across Africa. During testing, StarWin’s ESA terminal demonstrated impressive capabilities, ensuring high-speed data and reliable communications while on the move.

The successful partnership sets a new standard of quality and efficiency for satellite communications, opening up new possibilities to users in motion. The Ka-band ESA terminal’s compact size, lightweight design, and easy and quick mounting process make it a versatile and practical solution for a wide range of applications that require mobility.

“We are thrilled to have joined forces with Avanti for this revolutionary project,” stated Mrs. Amelia Liu, COO and Co-founder of StarWin. “The successful testing of our Ka-band ESA terminal is just the beginning of a new era, we look forward to further advancements in the industry. The future of mobile connectivity in Africa looks brighter than ever.”

Donald Walker, Senior Vice President of Government and Defence added, “At Avanti, we are committed to delivering the very best service to our customers and users, and this latest partnership with StarWin will allow us to expand our offering in Africa’s defence and security sector, by providing greater on the move capabilities. This new chapter will further our mission to deliver secure and reliable connectivity to those who need it most.”

Avanti has a long history supporting government and defence customers and is a trusted provider of Satellite Communications (SATCOM) to US, UK and global government agencies. The company’s fleet of four HYLAS Ka-band satellites offer 50GHz capacity and cover more than 1.7 billion people in 118 countries.

Both companies are dedicated to serving the needs of customers in the region, empowering them with reliable and efficient satellite connectivity solutions.

Posted in Comms, International, Press Release | Comments Off on StarWin and Avanti Bring Ground-Breaking SatCom on the Move to Africa

Spectra Group’s Award-Winning SlingShot Satcom System Selected for Project Capstone 4

Monday, October 9th, 2023

Spectra Group, a specialist provider of secure voice, data and satellite communications systems, in partnership with Inmarsat, has been selected to support Project Capstone 4 (Army Futures Command’s premier integration and experimentation exercise in 2024) with their award-winning SlingShot satellite communications system. Spectra Group has a strong pedigree of successfully supporting previous command and control innovation and integration demonstrations for the USDOD and USSOCOM, the Army Maneuver Battle Lab (AEWE 2019) and the Fires Battle Lab (MFIX 2022).

SlingShot is a compact and user-friendly tactical radio range extension system designed to enhance Beyond Line Of Sight (BLOS) Communications On The Move (COTM) C2 (Command and Control) communications. This innovative system effortlessly enables in-service Ultra High Frequency (UHF) and Very High Frequency (VHF) radios to utilise L-Band satellite frequencies, extending their reach over thousands of kilometers. A standout feature of SlingShot is its intuitive plug-and-play capability, making it a reliable choice for both stationary and mobile setups. It serves as a direct augmentation to existing tactical radios. When paired with the Inmarsat L-TAC service, SlingShot significantly expands its user base and coverage, enabling the immediate transmission of voice, data and specialized military applications, such as artillery coordination and situational awareness, across vast distances.

Project Capstone leads the integration of all the domains that the US Army is dependent on — air, land, sea, space, cyberspace adopting a truly multi-domain/multi-national approach, while at the same time looking at concepts for the future. The Network Cross Functional Team (N-CFT) acknowledges that as national armies operate in multinational coalitions during future expeditionary operations, integration and interoperability of communications is paramount to ensuring battlefield success. Therefore, the N-CFT hosts foreign liaison officers from the armies of two close allies, the U.K. and Australia, to help shepherd information interoperability initiatives, concepts and goals and Spectra Group from the UK has been selected to support this project.

SlingShot plays a pivotal role in advancing interoperability among forces. By bridging communication gaps and ensuring seamless integration between different communication systems and networks, SlingShot fosters collaboration and coordination among diverse military units and allies. For broader connectivity, SlingShot can adeptly link the L-TAC networks to major, distant headquarters worldwide using cutting-edge digital RF-Over-IP technology. With a commendable track record, marked by over 7,000 units actively utilised by both specialised and regular forces globally, SlingShot has proven its mettle in the most challenging environments and diverse locales.

Pat Gallagher, General Manager Spectra Group (US) said: “SlingShot has a fantastic operational record with USSOCOM and is the perfect system to support AFC’s communication innovation and integration experiments as it can be added to any existing or future capability. When combined with the Inmarsat L-TAC service, SlingShot delivers the ultimate interoperability for secure voice, data and applications at scale for operations anywhere in the world.”

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