Now available, the Tactical Communications Handbook from Mission Essential Gear. Built in the THULS platform.
Subjects:
-Basic Radio Principles
-Basic Radio Wave Properties
-Basic Antenna Theory
-Antenna Selection
-Radio Operator Resources
-Field Antenna Repair
-Field Expedient Antennas
-SINCGARS Julian Date Calendar
-PROWORDS
FORT BRAGG, North Carolina – Airborne Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), 82nd Airborne Division, completed almost two weeks testing the Army’s newest small leader radio (LR) packages.
“Soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division demonstrated tactical communications at its finest during the initial operational test,” said Maj. Brian Ramirez, Leader Radio (LR) Test Officer with the Fort Hood-based U.S. Army Operational Test Command’s Mission Command Test Directorate (MCTD).
The Handheld, Manpack and Small (HMS) Form Fit/Tactical Radio variants are two-channel handhelds, used at the company and platoon levels by squad and team leaders to talk to each other and to aircraft to improve battlefield situational awareness.
Ramirez said the LR system is designed as an interoperable family of advanced software-reprogrammable, dual-channel, net-centric reliable communications radio sets.
The Generation 2 Manpack (MP) Radio is a two-channel, software defined, multi-waveform, General Purpose User (GPU) radio designed to support mounted and dismounted operations.
Explaining the two systems in non-technical, every-day terms, Ramirez said, “This initial operational test of radio capabilities gave the Army the opportunity to demonstrate the current and future of tactical communications.”
The HMS MP will be fielded primarily to Brigade Combat Team (BCT) Battalions, Companies, and Platoons.
The GEN2 MP is deployed in three configurations: a Tactical Operations Center (TOC) kit for command posts; mounted configurations integrated into the Army’s tactical and combat platforms; and a rucksack-held configuration to support Army dismounted operations.
Ramirez said operational testing of the radios are no different than an improved tank or new weapon system.
“These radio systems are subjected to weather, terrain, and the daily regimen of Light Infantrymen in an effort to replicate the actual operational environment to which they will be subjected if selected,” said Ramirez.
“Operational testing helps determine the effectiveness, suitability and survivability of operational systems Soldiers can use that works.”
The test, like many other previously routine operations, adjusted its daily operations to cope with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“Soldiers from the test unit and test team begin with daily COVID-19 screening and temperature checks;” Ramirez said. “This allowed the test team to identify and contain any possible transmission between specific bubbles.”
Once cleared into their specific environments, all attempts were made to maintain social distancing, between operations and test support functions, reducing interaction between test support personnel and test unit Soldiers.
“Operational Testing is about assisting the Army in providing modern software-defined radios with the latest technology for Soldiers,” said Col. Patrick Curry, director of MCTD.
“It is about making sure that the communication systems developed assist the Soldier in their mission and ensuring Soldiers are effective against all enemies in any operational environment.”
By Mr. Rick Michael, Mission Command Test Directorate, U.S. Army Operational Test Command
Associated link
INVISIO builds on the experience from working with elite forces within the military when serving special intervention units resolving high risk challenges such as counter terror, hostage recovery, VIP protection, site protection during special events and assistance to other police departments fighting organized crime.
INVISIO T7
INVISIO over-the-ear hearing protection headsets offer a significant improvement compared to the traditional cup headset design, as it removes weight and complexity from the headset by centralizing operation of the headset to the INVISIO control unit.
• Over-the-Ear Headset
• Hearing Protection 28 dB SNR
• Boom Microphone
• 10 Meter Submersible
• Dual Sided
• 350 Grams
• Tan or Black
INVISIO X5
INVISIO in-the-ear headsets are compatible with helmets, eyewear, breathing apparatus and ear muffs. They utilize the INVISIO Bone Conducting Technology where vibrations from the user’s jawbone are converted into crystal clear communication.
• In-Ear Headset
• Hearing Protection (32 dB SNR/29 dB NRR)
• Bone Conduction Microphone
• 2 Meter Submersible
• Dual Sided
• 54 Grams
• Tan or Black
INVISIO Control Units
The INVISIO system is based on a range of control units and headsets that are fully interchangeable. Together they provide crystal clear communication and industry leading hearing protection and situational awareness.
The control units can interface with various headsets along with up to four com sources simultaneously, including radios, intercoms, mobile phones and computers. They start automatically when connected to a radio and provide a simple interface for operation of different coms and hear-thru modes.
The control units are small, rugged, lightweight and submersible down to 20 meters. They power directly form the attached radio, intercom or other central power supply.
The N-ear 360 earpiece is designed by Denmark’s leading in-ear experts to be the most comfortable, covert, and best sounding earpiece for 2-way radios.
The N-ear 360 is trusted by high-performance security teams around the world.
The N-ear 360 3.5mm can be used in the following ways:
• Connecting to Speaker Mics – Simply plug in your N-ear 360 earpiece directly into your speaker mic audio port.
• Connecting to Existing Earpiece Kits – To connect the N-ear 360 3.5mm to an existing earpiece kit, you will need to have an adaptor (part # AD-AT-3.5). See the “Converting Is Easy” photo.
• Connecting to Radio – To connect your N-ear 360 3.5mm to a radio, you’ll need to have the Choice PTT/mic. Simply plug your 360 into the Choice PTT/mic. and then connect to your radio. At the time of ordering your Choice PTT/mic. you will tell us the radio model you are trying to connect to. See the “Wireless PTT” page.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
• 1 x N-ear 360 Earpiece
• 1 x Cable Clip
• 1 x Small Open Ear Tip
• 1 x Medium Double Flange Ear Tip
• 8 x Ear Wax Filters
• 1 x End-User Zipper Case (Black)
• 1 x User Guide
Unity Tactical is excited to announce the launch of MARK 2.0. The Modular Attach Rail Kit 2.0 replaces the original MARK kit and improves upon the design and manufacture. It features more compatibility compared to its predecessor. The MARK line of helmet rail mounts for communications headsets is the smallest, lightest, and most modular system for attaching currently fielded headsets to helmets. The MARK 2.0 improves upon the original by expanding the list of helmet rails with which it is compatible.
The Modular Attached Rail Kit (MARK) 2.0 allows the end user to seamlessly integrate their hearing protection and/or integrated communications into their headborne systems and improve the consistent seal of ear protection. The MARK 2.0 is compatible with most major helmet types and the most popular electronic hearing protection. The MARK 2.0 Kit will work with 3M Peltor™ Headsets right of the package. If attaching to Sordin/MSA™ style headsets, use the SARA Adapters (sold separately).
The MARK 2.0 Kit comes with all hardware for attachment to Ops-Core ARC™ (and similar) and Team Wendy EXFIL™ Gen 2 and 3 rails. An M-LOK™ Adapter Kit is sold separately for compatibility with MTEK and Hard Head Veterans brand helmets. The wider ARC™ backers allow for more compatibility with non-standard ARC-type rails than the previous model.
MARK 2.0 is the lowest profile headset helmet mount on the market. Rather than using a traditional pop-in/pop-out mechanism, MARK2.0 is simply pulled away from the ears and rotated backwards for stowage. The aggressive wire forms ensure the strongest ear cup seal when engaged.
Constructed of impact-resistant polymer, the MARK 2.0 is designed for use in the most austere environments.
Available now!
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (Feb. 3, 2021) – The Army is improving situational awareness of the electromagnetic battlefield by developing spectrum-sensing capabilities that provide Soldiers with greater awareness of their own radio emissions.
Soldiers currently cannot “see” their own radio emissions within the radio frequency spectrum, putting them at risk of detection by adversaries. The Army’s spectrum awareness effort provides intuitive graphic overlays that enable Soldiers to visualize the energy emitting from their radio frequency systems, said Jonathan Lee, an engineer with the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center – a component of Army Futures Command’s Combat Capabilities Development Command.
“Knowing what we look like to the enemy from an electromagnetic perspective is a critical capability at all echelons of the Army,” said Lee. “This technology improves one’s situational understanding of the electromagnetic environment. It will enhance units’ ability to determine if a signal is friendly or malicious, and it will aid in planning maneuvers.”
Spectrum awareness is one of eight promising Army-developed science and technology efforts the Network Cross-Functional Team (CFT) has prioritized to receive research, development, test, and evaluation prototyping funds to move from early research and development to the demonstration and validation phase.
“Today, we need to be more judicious in order to increase survivability, specifically for our command posts where technology that transmits is most dense,” said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Chris Westbrook, N-CFT chief of marketing research and senior technical advisor. “This effort is going a long way to informing network design and our capability sets.”
Fiscal year 2020 is the first year the Network CFT requested and received prototyping funds aligned to science and technology integration efforts in support of future network capability sets.
“The funding is allowing the science and technology community to take the next step in developing spectrum awareness capabilities that will address capability gaps for the Army,” said Lee. “We believed this technology could be further matured to support additional complex propagation environments and support the identification of new and complex signal types. More work has to be done to further improve our situational awareness and understanding capabilities, but this funded effort is a key step in enhancing those for our Soldiers.”
Lee and his team were able to continue growing the capability from a Department of Defense technology readiness level (TRL) 4– which represents component or breadboard validation in a laboratory environment – to a TRL 6, which is a prototype ready for demonstration in an operationally relevant environment. This included further maturing capabilities for actionable intelligence and improved mission planning, such as Electronic Attack Effects Simulator (EAES) and Real Time Spectrum Situational Awareness (RTSSA).
EAES provides near-real time modeling and simulation to compute and visualize the impact of an adversarial electronic attack on a proposed course of action, thus aiding commanders in determining how best to maneuver assets within the battlespace.
RTSSA senses and compares detected spectrum against authoritative assignment data in the Joint Spectrum Data Repository to discriminate between “friendly” and adversarial communications emitters and other unauthorized radio frequency emitters, thus improving the quality of spectrum assignments and command decision support.
The C5ISR Center is partnering with the Network CFT and program executive offices (PEOs) to ensure these maturation efforts are properly vetted early for a viable and smooth transition to a program of record.
EAES, RTSSA and other C5ISR Center spectrum awareness capabilities are slated to be integrated with current and future increments of the Electromagnetic Warfare Planning Management Tool (EWPMT) – a capability under Project Manager Warfare and Cyber of PEO Intelligence Electronic Warfare and Sensors (IEW&S) that supports the commander’s military decision-making process.
“The EWPMT helps mitigate a critical vulnerability gap across most Army formations today: the ability to understand a unit’s friendly ‘foot print’ in the electromagnetic spectrum,” said Lt. Col. Jason Marshall, PEO IEW&S’s product manager for Electronic Warfare Integration (EWI). “This enables electronic warfare officers and electromagnetic spectrum manager Soldiers to inform their commander on how to conduct emission control, which ultimately enhances force protection and command post survivability in near-peer conflict.”
According to Marshall, the capability of widespread spectrum sensing contributes to a more accurate, timely, and tactically relevant understanding of the radio frequency spectrum, providing Soldiers with enhanced mission planning and the ability to inform multi-domain operations.
The C5ISR Center is working with PdM EWI to identify additional capabilities and demonstration needs. Spectrum awareness technologies are slated to be included in the first capability drops scheduled for fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
“The collaboration between the user community, research and development and acquisition is key to identifying what technologies are within the realm of possibility while refining the Soldier’s requirements as the current tactics, techniques, procedures and doctrine evolve,” Marshall said.
By Jasmyne Douglas, DEVCOM C5ISR Center Public Affairs
RE Factor Tactical’s Flexible Antenna Mast is great for those who need more flexibility and longevity from their current antenna system.
It can be woven into PALS webbing on a vest and will accept most manpackable SATCOM antennas. It is flexible, but will retain the shape you select.
www.refactortactical.com/products/flexible-antenna-mast
Irvine, CA — January 25, 2021 — Silynx Communications is excited and proud to announce the launch of FORTIS, a smart, modular tactical headset system that offers users the flexibility to utilize almost any headset and communication device to fit most any operating profile. It is the long-awaited successor to Silynx’s flagship C4OPS and is ideal for elite military teams all over the world. Acting as a central communications hub, the ambidextrous Fortis push-to-talk (PTT) control box offers a two-radio solution with an onboard power, and a three-radio/four-channel solution that also offers an in-line battery option. All models include interface ports to connect FORTIS to a variety of headsets from Silynx or other manufacturers – in-ear, over-the-ear, acoustic tubes, music earbuds – as well as to many communications devices, radios, smartphones, intercom systems, and mesh radios via secure onboard metal connectors. Fortis adapts to virtually any operational profile and team preference.
Silynx Communications not only called upon its vast engineering expertise but also its industrial- design experience to create a unique, modern fluted design that is slightly tapered to conform to a user’s grip. And Fortis’ protective outer housing can be easily changed out—an industry first—and fitted with most any custom color, pattern, or team insignia. Or it can be easily changed out in the unlikely event that the housing gets damaged.
Fortis is the most advanced, adaptable communication system on the market. Its durability— including integrated onboard connectors—flexibility, and quality are simply unmatched, and it is water- submersible up to 20 meters. And, when paired with Silynx in-ear earpieces, it also boasts superior hearing protection, both passive and active, to keep users safe.
“FORTIS does have it all. We brought together all our expertise to pack it full of technology that functions effortlessly, dependably, and integrates with most any device and configuration imaginable. We have always stood alone in our attention to function and form. The FORTIS control box has a unique industrial design, which incorporates an industry-first user-changeable external housing. Our customers for Fortis are primarily elite military teams who operate to adjacent commands with multiple radios. We take that responsibility seriously and are proud of what we provide to them. They do the hard, important work.” said Matthew Hemenez, President of Silynx Communications.
A revered Naval Special Warfare group was first in line to put Fortis to the test. The excellence of their team—and the demands of their operations—are legendary. That said, we know all operations are filled with the high stakes and this made us thankful to be put to the test with their great team. In the coming months, if permitted, we’ll share more of their stories and feedback, so everyone can learn from their initial experiences with Fortis.
Fortis models are now available for Testing & Evaluation (T&E).
Send requests to info@silynxcom.com or visit www.silynxcom.com/product/fortis to learn more.
For more information or interviews, press only, contact:
Theresa Nguyen, Sales Operations Manager, theresa.nguyen@silynxcom.com
