General Dynamics [GD] C4 Systems recently announced it has been awarded a $12.4 million contract modification to the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 3 contract by the Army to lead a defense-industry team in the development of a line-of-sight communications payload for Extended Range/Multi-purpose (ER/MP) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).
Once aboard the UAS, the WIN-T communications payload will use the Highband Networking Waveform (HNW) to serve as a radio repeater while the UAS is in flight, the company said. This capability is significant in an urban environment or on rugged terrain where there are barriers to ground communication.
HNW is a key technology on the WIN-T program, providing automation in establishment of a communication link that results in increased robustness of the communication network. WIN-T enables warfighters to communicate and collaborate on the move, in urban areas, mountains or isolated locations where there is no communications infrastructure.
Bill Weiss, vice president of Tactical Networks for General Dynamics C4 Systems, emphasized, “Implementing the airborne relay for WIN-T Increment 3 is a highly efficient and cost-effective approach to a complex problem that will pay great dividends for the warfighter. It will bring U.S. forces unfettered access to information, communications and collaboration wherever they happen to be.”
General Dynamics will lead the WIN-T Increment 3 team that includes Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and Harris Corp. [HRS]. The teammates will work closely to design the Communications Payload B-kit with General Atomics, makers of the ER/MP platform.
The Army Communications Electronics Command (CECOM), Fort Monmouth, N.J. is the contracting authority.
The WIN-T program is comprised of three increments. Increment 3 provides increased network reliability and capacity, smaller and more tightly integrated communications and networking gear needed for the Army’s Brigade Combat Team Modernization.
Increment 1 is currently fielded to a number of deployed Army units. Increment 2 equips tactical vehicles with broadband communications, enabling commanders to see and command from anywhere in the battlespace. General Dynamics C4 Systems is the prime systems integrator for WIN-T and is teamed with Lockheed Martin [LMT], BAE Systems, Harris Corp. [HRS], L-3 communications [LLL], Juniper Networks and CISCO [CSCO] Systems.