X-band Satellite Communications-on-the-Move Capability During Naval Exercise

DRS Technologies, PARSIPPANY: DRS Technologies, Inc. announced today that its business unit based in Merrimack, New Hampshire, DRS Codem Systems, Inc., successfully demonstrated their X-band Satellite Communications-On-The-Move (COTM) capabilities with an XTAR, LLC satellite during the U.S. Navy's annual exercise, Trident Warrior. 
 
The demonstration occurred aboard the Department of Defense's Office of Force Transformation's experimental naval craft, the Stiletto, while moving at speeds exceeding 40 knots off the coast of Virginia. 
 
DRS Codem Systems is an industry leader in providing on-the-move satellite communications and innovative surveillance solutions to U.S. and international military forces. Its participation with XTAR in this year's Trident Warrior supported the naval exercise's objective of testing new technologies that could improve communication and situational awareness, and speed vital information to warfighters. 
 
“The U.S. Navy's future FORCEnet capabilities will require that the operators of small patrol vessels have command, control and communications capabilities to immediately inform and apprise their commanders of their latest intelligence and situational awareness,” said Alan R. Dietrich, president of DRS' Intelligence Technologies Strategic Business Unit. “This successful demonstration at sea is proof of the company's commitment to remain an industry leader in Satellite COTM capabilities. It is especially important that it was accomplished via the X-band frequency since the five satellites that will comprise the future Wideband Global Satellite constellation, will provide both spot beam and worldwide X-band coverage.” 
 
The successful demonstration provided high data rate (3Mbps), Beyond Line-Of-Site and “reach back” capabilities utilizing DRS' 85-pound X-band COTM terminal and the XTAR-LANT satellite. The DRS-XTAR solution enabled video from the experimental boat's electro-optical system and Craft Integrated Electronic Suite, to be relayed live to the U.S. Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California. 
 
“DRS Codem's small lightweight communications-on-the-move terminal provided an excellent vehicle to demonstrate how XTAR's high power X-band satellites can provide transformational satellite communications capabilities for Department of Defense applications,” said Dr. Denis Curtin, chief operating officer of XTAR. 
 
The Stiletto was developed by the Office of Force Transformation to explore new technologies such as X-band Satellite COTM for use in littoral warfare. For this experiment the office received support from the U.S. Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command and Naval Air Warfare Center, the U.S. Special Operations Command, the U.S. Army's Communications-Electronics Research Development and Engineering Command, and XTAR, LLC. 
 
“From ease of installation to operational performance, the DRS Technologies X-band satellite communication system met or exceeded our expectations, providing the Stiletto with a broadband Internet reach back capability,” said James F. Hruska, commander of the Office of Force Transformation. “In my personal opinion this system provided a valuable satellite communications capability for small to midsize naval platforms.”  
 
XTAR, LLC is a private, U.S. owned and operated company selling X-band services to support both U.S. and Allied government users. The high-powered global, fixed and steerable beams on XTAR's two satellite payloads provide essential, flexible and real-time X-band capacity with coverage from Denver east to Singapore. XTAR's satellites offer “on-the-move” capability for mobile command posts, security and disaster response, as well as small ships and airborne relayed sensor data. 
 
DRS Technologies, headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, is a leading supplier of integrated products, services and support to military forces, intelligence agencies and prime contractors worldwide. The company employs approximately 10,000 people.