Boeing [NYSE: BA] has delivered, on schedule, the latest increment of Joint Tactical Radio System Ground Mobile Radios (JTRS GMR) to the U.S. Army's Future Combat System (FCS) program. The six units delivered in mid-May increase the total number of radios delivered since January to 27. The Boeing team of BAE Systems, Rockwell Collins and Northrop Grumman remains on track to deliver a total of 50 radios this year.
The software-defined JTRS radios are undergoing integration and testing by the FCS program and ultimately will provide Internet-like network-centric capabilities to the nation's warfighters while they are on the move.
"This is a significant event for the program as it moves forward," said Ralph Moslener, Boeing JTRS GMR program manager. "The success we've seen with the capability development over the past year is now available to the FCS program in growing numbers."
The GMR radios will bring networking to the battlefield in the form of new, secure capabilities that include the transmission/receipt of real-time information in voice and text, the ability to stream live video and audio, share maps, conduct networked meetings and use Voice over Internet Protocol.
During recent tests using the Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW) Signal in Space, the Boeing team demonstrated more than twice the range capability of previous testing.
The initial waveform set includes the Single-Channel Ground Air Radio System waveform and the WNW-increment 1, which uses common Internet Protocol-based networking concepts, as well as new mobile ad-hoc networking technology to integrate voice, video and data communications.
Several JTRS GMR demonstrations over the past year have shown multi-channel operation, simultaneous waveform operation, interoperability with current-force radios, end-to-end radio operation and multiple legacy waveform operation.