U.S. Army officials sought a reliable mobile communications solution for Army units deployed on the battlefield. They found their solution at DataPath Inc., a provider of satellite and wireless communications networks in Duluth, Ga.

DataPath won a contract from the program manager of WIN-T’s Commercial SATCOM Terminal Program (CSTP) at the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command at Fort Monmouth, N.J., to provide its MobiLink Technologies communications on-the-move (COTM) systems to a deployed U.S. Army unit in support of battlefield operations.

The MobiLink Technologies COTM system from DataPath, having been field tested in Iraq, are installed in Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles (one of which is shown at left). Eight additional COTM systems, as well as field technical support and other services have been procured through exercised options under an existing delivery order, says a company representative.

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“The driving concern of this effort by the Army is improving situational awareness and mission effectiveness of forward-deployed warfighters,” says Steve Lindeman, vice president of business operations at DataPath.

“With the technology to provide COTM capabilities available immediately at a reasonable cost, military commanders are moving to get COTM into the hands of their forces,” continues Lindeman.

MRAPs with MobiLink COTM systems are enabled with broadband connectivity while traveling at high speeds on long convoys and operations in Iraq. In the battlefield environment, the systems are designed to provide an unbroken satellite link on-the-move, and to operate without interference from military jammers.

Commanders on the battlefield use the COTM systems to receive live unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) video feeds and use voice over-IP (VoIP), video teleconferencing, SIPRNet Web connectivity, and other command-and-control applications. With these capabilities, forces in the field are able to create a local and over-the-horizon network that is reliable regardless of the terrain and the distance from a military base, says a representative.

On June 1, officials at Rockwell Collins Inc. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, announced the completed acquisition of DataPath, which includes SWE-DISH Satellite Solutions AB, a wholly owned subsidiary. DataPath now operates under the Rockwell Collins brand, as part of the company’s Government Systems business.

For further information, visit DataPath Inc. and Rockwell Collins online at www.datapath.com and www.rockwellcollins.com, respectively.