L-3 Communications has successfully completed preliminary flight tests of an airborne network in a hub-spoke network configuration, including fully automatic acquisition, tracking and control over both power and data rate.
L3 is the preeminent supplier of wideband data links and mobile surface and airborne satellite terminals for military applications.
The airborne hub transmitted real-time data to two Multi-Platform – Common Data Link (MP-CDL) terminals on the ground, mixing real-time video streams from an L-3 Wescam 12DS 200 camera and a cockpit webcam with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone traffic and other sources. Data rates varied up to 137 Mb/s on the outbound link and up to 67 Mb/s on the inbound link.
The MP-CDL terminal is transformational; enabling airborne Command and Control Constellations and Network Centric operations. Cubic is providing Ku and X band antennas that can communicate from the aircraft to as many as 30 ground stations at one time. Simultaneous multi-beam operation with two 10.71 Mbps return links and two 200 kbps forward links have been demonstrated using phased array antennas.
The MP-CDL also demonstrated interoperability with L-3’s manpackable ROVER III terminal, a handheld device that allows ground forces to retrieve images from drones and other aircraft. The MP-CDL systems are now being integrated into two KC-135 aircraft at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico in preparation for additional net-centric capability demonstrations, which will include point-to-point, air-to-air, multiple-hub and hub-handoff capabilities.
The Global Hawk UAV is optimized for high altitude, long range and endurance. It is capable of providing 28 hours of endurance while carrying 3,000 pounds of payload and operating at 65,000 feet mean sea level.
The integrated sensor suite consists of SAR, Optical, and IR sensors. Each of the sensors provides wide area search imagery and a high-resolution spot mode. The radar also has a ground moving target indicator mode. The autonomous aircraft, has a see and avoid requirement. The bandwidth offered by an MP-CDL broadcast can support multiple cameras on the Global Hawk and display a panoramic view.
The Multi-Platform – Common Data Link system was initially planned to replace the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) E-8C Surveillance and Control Data Link (SCDL), which transmitted data to/from the E-8C and its ground station. The Air Force restructured the MP-CDL program to be the data link for a Network Centric Warfare capability, in addition to its role supporting the Multi-Platform Radar.
L-3 was formed in 1997 from 10 discarded divisions of Lockheed Martin. The company has focused on components, subsystems and small systems rather than competing with the largest companies for military platforms like warplanes, ships and tanks.
