British military chooses video-distribution data radios from L-3 for UAV surveillance system
SALT LAKE CITY, 26 Oct. 2016. British military experts needed data radios for full-motion video distribution from unmanned surveillance aircraft to military forces on land and at sea. They found their solution from L-3 Communication Systems-West in Salt Lake City.
The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence in London has awarded L-3 a $23.2 million contract for the company's Tactical Network ROVER handheld transceivers and ROVER 6i transceivers for the United Kingdom Joint Common Remote Viewing Terminal (JCRVT) program.
The JCRVT distributes full-motion video data from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It displays data, save video and images, and transmits video and imagery to British military forces on land and at sea.
The JCRVT will use L-3 ROVER transceivers to integrate key United Kingdom intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft with land- and sea-based weapons platforms such as surface warships, artillery, and missile launchers.
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The JCRVT will enable the exchange of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance video and imagery across the battlespace via a wideband IP network, L-3 officials say.
The L-3 ROVER product family is interoperable with current United Kingdom, U.S., and NATO reconnaissance aircraft and the recently announced United Kingdom AH-64 Apache E attack helicopter Block upgrade and P-8 maritime patrol aircraft.
L-3 is partnering with Ultra Electronics in Greenford, England, which is responsible for repair through an in-country support facility.
The L-3 Communications Systems-West ROVER family of data radios receive sensor data from several different kinds of aircraft. It has type 1 encryption for cyber security in transmitting reconnaissance data to weapons systems.
It provides real-time situational awareness, targeting, battle damage assessment, surveillance, relay, convoy overwatch, and other capabilities that require eyes on target, L-3 officials say. The system is compatible with large manned aircraft, as well as with UAVs.
The ROVER family of data radios offers multiband reception and transmission; transmits on UHF terrestrial radio bands, as well as on L-, S-, C-, and Ku-band satellite communications frequencies; has two independent reception channels; Web browser capability; and various power options, including 32 volts DC, AC/DC battery eliminator, and BA-5590 battery compatibility.
On this contract L-3 Communications Systems-West will do the work in Salt Lake City. The contract is for four years, and has two three-year options.
For more information contact L-3 Communications Systems-West online at www2.l-3com.com/csw, or the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence.
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