CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, 12 July 2005. Rockwell Collins has been selected by the U.S. Air Force as the prime contractor for Phase 2 of the Ground Element Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network (MEECN) System (GEMS) program. The total program value is estimated at more than $350 million over six years.
Rockwell Collins was a prime contractor for Phase 1, which involved a five-month study of potential solutions for the GEMS program.
The GEMS program will replace Air Force and Navy fixed and deployable communications for bomber, tanker, reconnaissance, and other alert communications facilities. This system will provide an upgraded networked infrastructure incorporating improved capabilities for aircrew alerting, message handling and the supporting communications links.
Improvements include updated Extremely High Frequency (EHF)/Advanced EHF (AEHF) satellite communications and redundant Very Low Frequency (VLF) communication paths for critical strategic message traffic. The improvements will eliminate obsolescence issues associated with the current aircrew alerting devices (pagers and klaxons), Ultra High Frequency (UHF) communications, and Emergency Action Message (EAM) processing systems.
Rockwell Collins has been involved in the MEECN system since its inception and continues to provide key portions of the network for the U.S. military. GEMS will provide the U.S. military with assured, survivable, protected and highly reliable strategic communications for the fixed and transportable ground portions of the network.
Rockwell Collins is a leader in the design, production and support of communications and aviation electronics solutions for government and commercial customers worldwide. For more information, see www.rockwellcollins.com.
