REDONDO BEACH, Calif.,
April 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/
-- Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) has successfully
demonstrated a space-design protected tactical waveform (PTW)
processor that enhances user data rates up to a factor of 20,
improves spectral efficiency up to a factor of 4 and provides
bandwidth-on-demand to significantly improve warfighter
communications in contested tactical environments.
A photo accompanying this release is available at:
http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=32122.
The testing was completed as part of the U.S. Air Force Space
and Missile Systems Center's MILSATCOM Design for Affordability
Risk Reduction effort with MIT/Lincoln
Labs. The processor successfully communicated using the Air
Force-developed protected tactical waveform, which builds upon the
proven protection features of the Advanced Extremely High Frequency
(AEHF) program's extended data rate waveform known as XDR.
Northrop Grumman confirmed the demonstration platform consists
of flight-representative technology readiness level six
(TRL-6) hardware, firmware and
software that can be incorporated into a near-term flight program
and provide assured communication and performance to the
warfighter.
"While PTW provides substantial new capabilities for the
warfighter, a waveform alone does not provide protection," said
Tim Frei, vice president,
communication systems, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "The
real value of PTW is when it is integrated into an architecture
with comprehensive protection including space-based processing,
non-commercial frequency bands, crosslinks and other key protection
features in the antenna and radio frequency processing chains.
"Northrop Grumman has maximized the value of this contract to
the government by treating it not simply as a concept
demonstration, but rather as true risk reduction and prototype
development consistent with our standard development process for
flight units," added Frei. "Each dollar spent developing the
demonstration platform for this effort has directly reduced the
future cost of an eventual flight unit."
The Northrop Grumman PTW platform demonstrated at the
MIT/Lincoln Labs test facility is a
fully integrated subsystem with multi-channel demodulators,
Ethernet-based packet switching, high-data-rate modulators, and the
associated control software. After completing the full suite of
government-defined modem tests, the Northrop Grumman team performed
additional testing including the connection of multiple terminal
emulators in an end-to-end configuration with complete forward and
return processing and Ethernet switching. The team also
demonstrated how the bandwidth-on-demand software responds to a
multi-user loading environment to efficiently use the available
spectrum.
Northrop Grumman's investment in the space processor is capable
of adding true protection while enabling assured communications
capability to the warfighter at greatly reduced program
implementation risk, and marks the next steps in advancing military
satellite communications.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing
innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems,
cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and
commercial customers worldwide. Please visit
www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
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SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation