Comms | Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

Archive for the ‘Comms’ Category

Tomahawk Robotics Brings its Kinesis “Universal Robotic Controller” App for Unmanned Systems to MPU5 Networked Radio

Wednesday, January 27th, 2021

Tomahawk Robotics, developer of the Kinesis common control system, joins other industry partners using Persistent’s Wave Relay® mobile ad hoc network and associated hardware.

NEW YORK, Jan. 19, 2021 // — Persistent Systems, LLC (“Persistent”) announced today that Tomahawk Robotics has joined the Wave Relay® Ecosystem, a rapidly growing industry alliance of unmanned system and sensor companies that use Persistent’s Wave Relay® mobile ad hoc network (MANET) as their preferred network.

As part of this agreement, Tomahawk Robotics will make its Kinesis, an Android™-based common control system for leading unmanned ground vehicles and unmanned aircraft systems, available for Persistent’s MPU5 Android™-based MANET radio and Rugged Display and Controller (RDC).

“Basically, this provides a ‘universal controller’ for unmanned systems that resides on the MPU5 and is accessed with the RDC, both of which the dismounted warfighter would already be carrying,” said Brian Mcdonald, Field Operations Director at Persistent Systems. “So, you eliminate the weight and cost of extra hardware, and you bring Tomahawk’s all-encompassing Kinesis capability to everyone on the tactical team, not just the UxV operator.”

The MPU5 runs the Android operating system, enabling apps like Kinesis to be loaded directly onto the radio, while the RDC provides the touch screen, joysticks, and gamepad buttons in a formfactor the size of a commercial smartphone.

“With the intuitive, easy-to-use Kinesis, you can operate any unmanned system on the land, in the air or on the water,” said Matt Summer, CTO at Tomahawk Robotics. “You don’t need specialized controllers or training for each individual system.”

Should the mission require, as in the case of finely manipulating the arm of a bomb disposal robot, the MPU5 and RDC can operate seamlessly with the Tomahawk Robotics Mimic spatial controller.

“We look forward to collaborating with Tomahawk Robotics because, together, we are bringing the warfighter incredible capabilities in a small, lightweight package, making it easier on the user and more affordable for the customer,” Mcdonald said.

Posted in Comms, Press Release, Robotics | Comments Off on Tomahawk Robotics Brings its Kinesis “Universal Robotic Controller” App for Unmanned Systems to MPU5 Networked Radio

Safariland Debuts Enhanced Liberator HP 2.0 Hearing Protection

Tuesday, January 26th, 2021

Safariland®, a brand of The Safariland Group, a leading global provider of safety products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets, is excited to announce the release of the latest evolution of their Liberator HP Advanced Hearing Protection Headset. Liberator HP systems compress and reduce hazardous sound to safe levels inside the headset without muting other ambient sounds or audio.

“The new Liberator HP headset is the clear choice for hearing protection in environments with impulse/gunfire noise and high-decibel, constant background audio,” stated James Imhoff, VP & GM of Diversified Products at Safariland. “Safariland has built a headset that delivers unparalleled capabilities, performance and comfort. The Liberator HPs combat distracting sound with active noise cancelation while simultaneously enhancing atmospheric sounds that are crucial for effective communication and situational awareness.”

Safariland’s Liberator HP include active noise cancelation and the ability to provide a full spectrum of environmental sounds simultaneously. The multi-mode dual processor also protects against steady state noise. With up to 29 dBa of attenuation, the headset compresses harmful sound levels to approximately 82 dBa.

Liberator HP headsets provide 360 degrees ambient sound reproduction for accurate environmental sound replication, threat identification and threat localization. In speech isolation mode, end users can easily communicate face to face without the need for an intercom. Liberator HP headsets support operator concentration, safety, mission completion and help prevent user fatigue. The ability to maintain peripheral hearing and amplify potential danger signs and audio clues from the environment are unique features of Liberator HP systems and necessary for tactical missions.

Liberator HP Advanced Hearing Protection Headset System

• First of its kind, multi-mode adjustability providing Active Noise Reduction (ANR), Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and both simultaneously
• Digital Threat Compression Technology, Advanced Digital Processor, and Digital Situational Awareness Enhancement
• 160 – 300 Hour Run Time
• Firmware Updateable Electronics
• Black with red buttons (TAN499 Earcup and OD Green with black buttons also available)
• Dual Fuel Battery Compartment (either two AAA batteries or one CR123 battery)
• Adaptive Headset Suspension, easily adjustable to be worn Over-The-Head, Behind-The-Head or Rail-Mounted.
• Designed, Engineered, and Made in California, USA

Safariland’s Liberator HP Hearing Protection (Starting at $299.99) cuts up to 33dB.

Posted in Comms, Press Release | 2 Comments »

goTenna Tech Talk – Remote Situational Awareness for Special Operations Forces

Wednesday, January 20th, 2021

Wes Bryant, goTenna’s SOF Business Development Lead recently presented a Tech Talk at the DSI SOF & Worldwide Operations Symposium entitled, “Remote Situational Awareness for Special Operations Forces.”

To watch the video, visit thelastmile.gotennapro.com/remote-situational-awareness-for-special-operations-forces.

Posted in Comms, SOF | Comments Off on goTenna Tech Talk – Remote Situational Awareness for Special Operations Forces

Silynx Fortis

Sunday, January 17th, 2021

The new Fortis serves as a ultra-smart hub for up to three tactical radios, connects with many headsets, its housing can be quickly changed out (for aesthetics or necessity), and it’s submersible up to 20 meters.

www.silynxcom.com/product/fortis

Posted in Comms | Comments Off on Silynx Fortis

US Army Space Company Replaces Communication System with Portable Alternative

Friday, January 15th, 2021

FORT CARSON, Colo. – The 1st Space Battalion’s 4th Space Company is trading in their old ground satellite terminals for a lightweight, portable option – the Ground Antenna Transmit and Receive.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Carlos Gil, network management technician, 4th Space Company, said the GATR‘s portable design will provide the company the satellite terminal mobility Soldiers need in theater.

“It’s a lightweight, portable and durable system that will be beneficial in remote areas,” Gil said. “We can pack it in just two cases and we can set up in 30 minutes or less.”

4th Space Company provides support to geographical combatant commanders and U.S. Strategic Command by supplying critical information and timely data on the health and status of various satellites, ensuring reliable communication channels. This means being able to communicate from anywhere, even remote locations difficult to reach in large vehicles.

The GATR is replacing the company’s Secure Internet Router/Non-Secure Internet Protocol Router Access Point ground satellite terminals, which weigh 300-400 pounds and are typically transported in the back of high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles or helicopters.

The GATR, consisting of a flexible, inflatable ball and a dish, weighs approximately 25 pounds and can fit into two cases the size of checked airport baggage. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nathan Paquette, a 4th Space Company network management technician, said it is small and light enough for Soldiers to carry.

“The antenna is easily deployable and provides the same high-bandwidth satellite communications as the larger, heavier SNAP ground satellite terminals,” Paquette said.

The company recently completed a 10-day training session to become familiar with assembling and operating the new system. All three companies in 1st Space Battalion will receive GATRs for field communications.

1st Space Battalion, which generates and provides space combat power for Army and joint forces to conduct global and continuous multi-domain planning and operations, is assigned to the 1st Space Brigade, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command

By SFC Aaron Rognstad (USASMDC)

Posted in Army, Comms, Guest Post, Space | Comments Off on US Army Space Company Replaces Communication System with Portable Alternative

Atlantic Signal Awarded $45 Million Hearing Enhancement and Communications Contract by USMC

Wednesday, January 13th, 2021

Atlantic Signal is proud to announce it was recently awarded a 45-million dollar contract from the United States Marine Corps for Hearing Enhancement Devices (HED).

The original solicitation by the USMC was released in April of this year to provide a hearing protection headset with dual comm capability, a hearing protection-only headset, dual comm push-to-talk and radio cable assemblies for the CORPS’ 6 pin military radios and Motorola XTS commercial portables.

Proposal submittals and test and evaluation equipment was provided near the end of May and field test and evaluations were subsequently held utilizing the equipment provided by the various competitors.

Atlantic Signal submitted their exclusive 3M/Peltor ComTac V headset along with a hearing protection-only version of the headset. The Push-to-Talk submitted by Atlantic Signal was the company’s INVICTUS SS Dual Comm PTT over-molded in the CORPS’ required coyote color. The INVICTUS SS features twin shrouded actuation switches with a blackened steel MOLLE clip designed with multi-position capabilities allowing the end-user to position the PTT switched inboard or outboard when mounted to the vest. The INVICTUS SS push-to-talk also features two capped radio interface receptacles at the bottom of the housing. This system allows the user to connect a single or dual cable radio interface mix depending upon mission requirements. Further, the ComTac V headset chosen by the USMC features a custom cabled downlead designed and built by Atlantic Signal that provides radio RX in both earcups when a single radio cable is connected to the INVICTUS SS PTT and portable radio. When a second cable is connected the two incoming radio signals are automatically split between the headset’s two ear cups – offering ease of TX identification when two radio signals are being received at the simultaneously. The ComTac V headset features a removeable rubber sleeve from the over-the-head steel frame that captures the cables connecting the speakers and ambient environmental microphones in each ear cup. The company was also required to provide replaceable gel cups pads for the headsets along with an accessory rail connector (ARC) for helmet mounting each comms headset.

“We are proud to have been chosen by the USMC for the HED Program. We followed the HED proposal requirements adding some additional end-user features not necessarily requested and felt confident that our product mix would stand up against any competitor we faced. We were notified in mid-August that we had been chosen to provide the equipment requested in the USMC HED proposal only to have a disgruntled competitor file a protest with the USMC Program Office and SBA. The protest forced our company to assemble legal representation to address the litany of baseless claims made by the protestor which pushed the award out another 30 days. The protesting company’s claims were found to be undeserving and a decision was rendered in favor of Atlantic Signal. Unfortunately, the protestor appealed the decision again, further delaying our company’s ability to begin production planning and delivery of the initial 10 million dollars in equipment requested. Subsequently the protestor’s appeal was again found to be without merit and nearly a quarter year after the initial award was made to our company, we were finally able to begin production. The protestor’s actions accomplished nothing more than delaying delivery of critical equipment to our warfighters”, stated Randall Hedrick, President and Managing General Member of Atlantic Signal.

Atlantic Signal is based in Topeka, KS and specializes in the design, development and manufacture of ancillary devices for use with both Law Enforcement and Military radios worldwide. Along with the aforementioned USMC HED award, Atlantic Signal has also been awarded multi-year contracts with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s nationwide Special Operations Units (SOU), Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG) and Hostage Rescue Team (HRT), New York Police Department Emergency Services Units (ESU), United States Coast Guard Maritime Security & Support Teams (MSST), United States Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Teams (MSRT), Security Forces Assistance Brigade 3 (SFAB), United States Border Patrol and United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) among many others.

www.atlanticsignal.com

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

Silvus Retools StreamCaster Product Line for Spectrum Dominance

Tuesday, January 12th, 2021

New Radio Models, Waveform Features Provide Superior Tools to Mitigate Electronic Warfare Threats

Los Angeles, California (January 6, 2021) – Silvus Technologies, Inc. (“Silvus”) today announced the release of its newest radio models and waveform features designed to deliver reliable performance in congested and contested environments for an expanded variety of missions.

The release of the StreamCaster Lite 4200 (SL4200) represents not only the newest addition to the StreamCaster line, but also the smallest and lightest radio Silvus has ever offered. Designed for applications that are size, weight, and power (SWaP) or cost constrained, the SL4200 leverages Silvus’ Mobile Networked MIMO (MN-MIMO) waveform operating in narrowband channels as small as 1.25MHz.

Additionally, Silvus has announced 10W and 20W versions of the existing StreamCaster 4200 (SC4200) and StreamCaster 4400 (SC4400). Offering increased output power without an increase in size or weight, these high-power models are intended to deliver extended performance for long range applications.

Silvus has also expanded the capabilities of its Mobile Networked MIMO (MN-MIMO) waveform, with Spectrum Monitoring now included free on all SC4200 and SC4400 models. Additional MN-MIMO features include MANET Interference Avoidance (MAN-IA) and MANET Interference Cancellation (MAN-IC). The highest tier offering, the Spectrum Dominance Package, includes other Anti-Jam, LPI, and LPD features, and will be available to US Government end users only in early 2021.

“Backed by our leading MN-MIMO waveform, the expansion of the StreamCaster radio line marks a significant addition to the tactical communications environment,” said Jimi Henderson, Silvus Vice President of Sales. “Rounding out our suite of available products and licensable software options will allow us to deliver robust and reliable wireless communications for a wider variety of mission scenarios, providing Silvus users with capability overmatch in the spectrum domain.”

The SL4200 is immediately available, with 10W and 20W versions of the SC4200 and SC4400, and Spectrum Dominance waveform features being released later in the year. For more information on StreamCaster radios or to request a demo, visit silvustechnologies.com or email info@silvustechnologies.com.

Posted in Comms, Press Release | Comments Off on Silvus Retools StreamCaster Product Line for Spectrum Dominance

Racal Acoustics Announce Major Headset Contract with Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO)

Monday, January 11th, 2021

Racal Acoustics, the UK-based global designer and manufacturer of audio communications and protection systems has today announced a new contract to supply the Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO), with their RA4000 Magna digital headset system. The 7-year framework contract is worth up to USD $4.7 million and includes a full support package comprising of training, consumables and spares, plus an option to supply follow-on orders, as required.

The Racal Acoustics RA4000 Magna digital Active Noise Reduction (ANR) headset systems supplied under this contract include: the headset; a soft helmet liner; a ballistic helmet with integrated side-rails and NVG mount; and a downlead to connect the system to the in-vehicle intercom. Selected specifically to meet the needs of Leopard 1, Leopard 2 and CV90 heavy armoured vehicle crews, the RA4000 protects the crew from in-vehicle noise whilst enabling effective communication and situational awareness. The system also allows the user to dismount from the vehicle yet retain Active Noise Reduction (ANR) protection – powered by an integrated battery. As well as connecting the crew to the intercom, the system can be connected to remote communications devices, such as Personal Role Radio or other man-pack radios to allow the user to communicate with dismounted troops outside of the armoured vehicle crew environment. Already established as market leaders in military headset technology for high noise environments, this order further underlines Racal Acoustics as the global provider of choice for users wanting the very best protection whilst retaining optimum communication and situational awareness.

René Ulbjerg Toft, Deputy Technical Director, Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization, Land Materiel Systems Division said: “when tendering for a framework agreement on new CVC helmets for the Danish Army, DALO was focused on choosing a tactical solution that could provide as much attenuation as possible, without compromising clear intercom and radio communication. Through thorough user tests we conclude, that the RA4000 system was the only solution, that could satisfy our comprehensive requirements and operate efficiently on the heavily armoured platforms. DALO is eager to put the RA4000 system in service, to ensure the safety of the soldiers and to benefit from the flexibility that the software defined solution provides”.

Alexandre Huart, Vice President – Sales and Marketing at Racal Acoustics said: “we’re all very proud of winning this order and we’re looking forward to delivering a first-class product and support service to the DALO”. He added: “the RA4000 system delivers exactly what was specified by the customer. Our future-proofed design allows the Racal Acoustics engineers to upgrade the integrated software to take account of our ongoing innovation activity – constantly striving to maintain our ‘best in class’ position and reputation”.

www.racalacoustics.com

Posted in Comms, Contracts, International, Press Release | Comments Off on Racal Acoustics Announce Major Headset Contract with Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO)