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ST. LOUIS, 15 Nov. 2008. Boeing demonstrated network-centric successes this summer during the U.S. Army's C4ISR On-The-Move (OTM) Event 08 at Fort Dix, N.J.
The event marked the Army's largest-ever command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) and networking technology demonstration.
"The Fort Dix demonstration showed that we can combine our platform expertise with next-generation, communications-on-the-move capabilities today," says Phil Dunford, vice president of Operations for Boeing Rotorcraft Systems. During the event, Boeing demonstrated several advancements in network-centric operations.
A CH-47D/F Chinook helicopter surrogate demonstrated three of the key Future Force network-enabling technologies operating together simultaneously – the Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW), the Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW) and the System-of-Systems Common Operating Environment.
For the first time, Boeing's A160T Hummingbird UAV used an electro-optical/infrared sensor to increase ISR and situational awareness for other airborne and ground assets while bridging and strengthening air/ground communications networks, Boeing officials say.
An AH-64D Apache helicopter, using the Block III architecture and the Open System Gateway, successfully exchanged Variable Message Format messages with ground forces via the SRW. The Apache crew also routed electro-optical sensor video and data through the A160T as well as directly to the tactical operations center.
Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) surrogate radios, running a subset of the WNW, passed data between the Chinook surrogate and the tactical operations center, and supported Chinook logistics, chat, Tactical White Board and aircraft situational awareness. Additionally, high data-rate video was streamed over the WNW to a rotorcraft cockpit display. The WNW uses common Internet Protocol-based networking concepts to transmit voice, video, and data in a mobile ad-hoc networking environment.
"The benefits of these advances for the warfighter and the commander are clear: improved situational awareness, enhanced air/ground coordination and the ability to deliver critical battlefield information seamlessly," Dunford says.
C4ISR OTM Event 08 was executed by the Product Manager, C4ISR On-The-Move of the Communications and Electronics Research, Development, and Engineering Center under the U.S. Army's Research, Development and Engineering Command.
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