HERNDON, Va., 22 Jan. 2007. Objective Interface Systems Inc. has announced that General Dynamics C4 Systems selected ORBexpress communications middleware as the sole Object Request Broker (ORB) for the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Handheld, Manpack, Small Form Fit (HMS) Cluster. The JTRS HMS radios include 14 small, lightweight "form factors" that will enable warfighters to be more agile and covert than current radios allow.
Each JTRS HMS radio features an advanced core receiver the size of a credit card, which supports the primary radio functions for each form factor. The JTRS HMS radio product lines allow individual warfighters to have networked communications capability, enabling coordinated joint force and coalition operations.
As prime contractor, General Dynamics is integrating the hardware and software operating environment of the JTRS HMS radios. The JTRS HMS radios are based on the Software Communications Architecture (SCA), developed by the U.S. Department of Defense. A key component of the SCA is the use of Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA). Objective Interface's ORBexpress RT is a real-time CORBA ORB that enables software developers to simplify the development of distributed software applications, build scalable, efficient and robust applications, and reduce overall development time.
In July 2004, the U.S. Army awarded a contract to General Dynamics for the system development and demonstration (SDD) phase of the JTRS program. The contract was valued at $295 million with the total contract award for the SDD phase and LRIP expected to be approximately $1.4 billion.
The first HMS radios were delivered for early testing and integration in October 2006. They will be integrated into the Future Combat Systems (FCS) intelligent munitions systems and unattended ground sensors, as well as the Ground Soldier System.
