RALEIGH, N.C., 26 April 2005. The TOPOFF 3 Full Scale Exercise, held April 4-8, 2005, deployed Raytheon JPS Communications' ACU-1000 to provide interagency communication among 200 federal, state, local, tribal, private sector, and international agencies and organizations.
During the exercise, task force leaders from three USAR teams deployed in New London, Conn. needed real-time communications to coordinate responses and resources. However, due to differing radio frequency bands, the inability to reprogram frequencies, and the difficulty of carrying multiple radios, the need for interagency communications became apparent. The ACU-1000 was deployed.
"The system worked seamlessly, with mobile antennas -- which were installed with magnetic mounts to a traffic sign. All communications between users were described as clear, and as if they were all on the same channel -- operating in very close proximity to each other," described Lt. John Kratzer, an operations officer with the New Jersey State Police. "After initial set-up, the patch was in full operation for over 24 hours."
"Providing equipment to interconnect a wide variety of systems in an organized fashion and enable users to add and change resources in the field is essential during large-scale incidents," stated Roman Kaluta, Director of Interoperability Solutions, Raytheon JPS. "The TOPOFF exercise allowed participating agencies to simulate a scenario where success depends on the coordination of shared knowledge, resources and technology. We're pleased our technology played a role in the exercise's success."
The TOPOFF scenario, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, lets agencies and jurisdictions exercise a coordinated national and international response to a large-scale, multipoint terrorist attack. Throughout the event, training activities assemble top officials to identify and address problems, share knowledge and develop skills for managing complex terrorist events.
Raytheon JPS Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Raytheon Company, designs, manufactures and sells electronic hardware and software products that enhance the effectiveness of communications systems. The company offers unsurpassed local, regional, state, and wide-area interoperability by linking radios (HF, UHF, & VHF), Nextel, SATCOM, cellular, WiFi and regular phones directly and over networks.
Raytheon Co., with 2004 sales of $20.2 billion, is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 80,000 people worldwide. For more information, see www.raytheon.com.
