Navy asks BAE Systems to continue building open-systems tactical networking for shipboard reconnaissance
SAN DIEGO – U.S. Navy multi-domain battle management experts needed transmit/receive capability of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data for tasking, collection, processing, and dissemination. they found their solution from the BAE Systems Electronic Systems segment in Greenlawn, N.Y.
Officials of the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command in San Diego announced a $85 million order to BAE Systems on Friday for Network Tactical Common Data Link (NTCDL) systems. The order brings the value of the BAE Systems NTCDL contract to $296.2 million.
NTCDL provides a real-time exchange of voice, data, imagery, and full-motion video from aircraft, surface warships, submarines, and warfighters on land. It helps the Navy tactical networking operations using currently fielded common data link (CDL) equipment, as well as next-generation manned and unmanned systems.
Initial NTCDL systems are going aboard Navy aircraft carriers and large-deck amphibious assault ships. NTCDL is a modular, scalable system designed to increase link capacity and embrace waveform evolution.
The technology uses an open-systems architecture with non-proprietary interfaces, and is reprogrammable to adapt to new and evolving mission needs. BAE Systems is building NTCDL technology at its facilities in Wayne, N.J., and Greenlawn, N.Y.
BAE Systems is working with partner Ball Aerospace to advance the two companies’ joint Multi Link CDL Systems development. Ball is building the Ku-band phased array antenna suite for BAE Systems on the NTCDL project.
These multi-beam planar phased array antennas from Ball Aerospace are based on silicon germanium (SiGe) technologies on one circuit board, which results in a low-profile antenna.
The antennas initially will be installed on naval aircraft carriers to enable the ships to communicate with a range of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms.
On this order BAE Systems will do the work in Greenlawn, N.Y., and should be finished by September 2028. For more information contact BAE Systems Electronic Systems online at www.baesystems.com/en/our-company/our-businesses/electronic-systems, or the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command at www.navwar.navy.mil.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
