Rockwell Collins to provide secure airborne voice, data, and video communications for Air Force One
April 15, 2010
HANSCOM AFB, Mass., 15 April 2010.Airborne communications systems designers at Rockwell Collins Inc. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will provide sophisticated aircraft communications equipment for the vice president of the United States, congressional leaders, and other high-ranking government personnel under terms of a $208.9 million contract announced Wednesday.
The U.S. Air Force Electronic Systems Center (ESC) at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is asking Rockwell Collins to provide the Senior Leadership Command, Control, and Communications System-Airborne Communications system, which gives secure voice, data, and video capability to the Very Important Person Special Air Mission (VIP/SAM) fleet of aircraft based at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
Rockwell Collins will provide secure voice, data, and video equipment for as many as 40 VIP/SAM aircraft, such as the C-20B (Gulfstream III), C-32A (Boeing 757), C-37A (Gulfstream V), and C-40B (Boeing 737) fixed-wing aircraft.
The Air Force is hiring Rockwell Collins to provide communication system operator work stations; passenger stations voice over internet protocol phones; video teleconferencing systems; classified and unclassified local area networks; and training, maintenance, and logistic support.
The Senior Leader Command, Control, and Communications System - Airborne Communications Program, referred to as SCP, provides on-aircraft communications for VIP/SAM users, who typically are U.S. senior leaders traveling worldwide who must be able to carry out their official duties while away from their home offices.
This equipment provides reliable and secure voice, data and video equipment, as well as common user interfaces and communications management functions across the VIP/SAM aircraft fleet.
For more information contact the Air Force ESC online at www.hanscom.af.mil/esc, or Rockwell Collins at www.rockwellcollins.com.
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
