CLARKSBURG, Md., 1 Aug. 2008.Thales Communications Inc. will provide communications design expertise for the upgrade of the Tactical Automated Security System (TASS). This contract has been awarded by the 642d Electronic Systems Squadron of the U.S. Air Force.
Thales, the subcontractor to L-3 Global Security and Engineering Solutions, will design advanced communications modules (CMs) and advanced handheld monitors (HHMs). The upgraded units will enable Thales' battle-proven AN/PRC-148 Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Multiband Inter/Intra Team Radio (MBITR) -- or JEM -- to be utilized as the advanced HHM with a simple software upgrade.
TASS enhances the warfighter's capability for early detection and identification of threats, preventing damage to, or destruction of, mission-critical assets. The electronic security system can be tailored for a wide variety of semi-permanent, portable, and covert applications.
An integral part of the Integrated Base Defense Security System, TASS detects intrusions into protected areas and directs responding forces to the intruders. It also assesses the strength and composition of the intruding force and facilitates the collection of critical intelligence information. TASS is in use by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and U.S. Marine Corps and secures bases and installations worldwide.
"The new design has common architecture with--and advanced capabilities of--the AN/PRC-148 JEM radio and eliminates the need for a separate HHM," says Ray Bruhn, U.S. Air Force business development manager for Thales Communications. "As in Thales' previous concept of sharing commonality between an operator's radio and sensor system, the new design continues to support increased capability while eliminating equipment."
The upgrade facilitates use of a self-forming, self-healing ad-hoc tactical sensor network. A JTRS-based software communications architecture-compliant communications module will provide greater range of radio-frequency bands than the previous system components in a standard architecture. Additionally, the waveform in the new design will provide a higher data rate to forward more data from the sensors and will facilitate next-generation sensors.
The design work under this contract will take place at Thales' Clarksburg, Md., facilities.
