Cubic Corporation, BALTIMORE: Three of the largest U.S. defense companies announced today they plan to support the development of an open-standard mesh networking system as an extension to the DoD's specification for a Common Data Link (CDL). Cubic Defense Applications, Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, and Rockwell Collins made the announcement at the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems conference in Baltimore. Many other major defense contractors are currently evaluating and commenting on this initiative with the intent of joining in the near future.
The initiative among the three companies aligns with a government funded project aimed at creating the specifications for the next-generation CDL. Program Executive Office (PEO) C4I and Space, PMW 170, is currently leading the tri-service effort to develop the next generation Common Data Link. Common Data Link is the DoD's standard for high data rate radios that connect sensor aircraft and users of their data.
“The initiative of these system developers to seek a truly open definition represents a major success in the government's effort to ensure interoperability among different vendors' CDL equipment,” said Eric Campbell of PMW-170, the program manager for the JTRS (Joint Tactical Radio Systems) CDL specification study.
“We need the next generation CDL specification to be available to all and sufficiently detailed that any terminal built in compliance with it will connect to similar terminals from other vendors,” Campbell added.
Mesh networking enables many stationary or mobile platforms to be linked together with data radios that automatically organize themselves into a communications network. With the high-speed connections a CDL network can provide, the platforms will be able to share a real-time common battlefield picture built on images and sensor data from all players.
Gateway nodes in the CDL mesh network will create bridges to allow it to connect with long-haul, backbone circuits and with wireless local area networks, enabling high-speed connections from battlefield soldiers to command organizations and information resources throughout the Defense Department.
Key to creation of such a mesh network is the addition of multiple-access modes to the existing standards for CDL. The new capabilities allow CDL to make better use of its allotted spectrum and enable many nodes to share a single frequency channel. The multiple-access waveform will be incorporated in the new software communications architecture-compliant versions of CDL.
The Cubic Defense Applications group, one of Cubic Corporation's two major segments, is a world leader in realistic combat training systems, mission support services and defense electronics. The corporation's other major segment, Cubic Transportation Systems, designs and manufactures automatic fare collection systems for public mass transit authorities.
Raytheon SAS is the leading provider of sensor systems giving war fighters the most accurate and timely information available for the battlefield. With 2004 revenues of $4.0 billion and 13,000 employees, SAS is headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., with additional facilities in Goleta, Calif.; Forest, Miss.; Dallas, McKinney and Plano, Texas; and several international locations.
With 2004 sales of $20.2 billion, Raytheon Company is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 80,000 people worldwide.
Rockwell Collins is a leader in the design, production and support of communications and aviation electronics solutions for government and commercial customers worldwide.
