Navy surveys industry for vehicle-mount Link-16 radios with simultaneous two-channel capability
LAKEHURST, N.J., 14 April 2015. U.S. Navy aircraft experts are surveying the military radio communications industry for companies able to provide off-the-shelf vehicle-mount radios with two-channel operation and Link 16 capabilities.
Officials of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, N.J., issued a sources-sought notice Friday (N00019-15-P2-PMA-209-0557) looking for non-developmental radios with simultaneous two-channel operation that fit aircraft, ground vehicles, boats, and ships.
These two-channel radios must be able to support the Link-16 waveform on one channel, and common waveforms on the other, like Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS), HaveQuick II, Very High Frequency (VHF)/Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Line of Site (VULOS), Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW), and Integrated Waveform (IW).
The two channels must be able to operate simultaneously, and must represent mature technology at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 9. Radios must have National Security Agency (NSA) certification for Type 1 capability to process Secret and Below (SAB) data; FAA electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) certification; and authorization to operate in the Link-16 tactical data link (TDL).
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The radios also must military standards compliance tests reports for SRW, Link-16, SINCGARS, and IW waveforms, as well as compliance certifications to MIL-STD 810G.
Link 16 is a military tactical data exchange network that enables military aircraft, ships and ground forces to exchange a tactical picture in near-real time. It helps military forces exchange text messages, imagery data, and two-channels -digital voice.
Navy officials want information on candidate radios concerning transmit and receive frequencies; interfaces; power sources; airborne, land vehicle, and marine vessel integration; transit cases; selective availability, anti-spoofing, and GPS capability; and a migration plan to M-Code GPS.
Companies interested should email responses no longer than 10 pages no later than 24 April 2015 to the Navy's Christine Yezzo at [email protected]. Email questions or concerns to Christine Yezzo at [email protected].
More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DON/NAVAIR/N68335/N68335-15-RFI-0159/listing.html.
John Keller | Editor
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.
