Defense Companies Announce Plan for a New,
Open-standard
Networking System
BALTIMORE,
Maryland, June 29, 2005–Three major U.S.
defense companies announced 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.
For more information about Cubic, see the company's Web site
at www.cubic.com.
Raytheon SAS is the leading provider of sensor systems giving
war fighters the most accurate and timely information available
for the network-centric 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. For more information
about Raytheon, see the company's Web site at www.raytheon.com.
Rockwell Collins (NYSE:COL) is a leader in the design, production
and support of communications and aviation electronics solutions
for government and commercial customers worldwide. Additional
company information is available at www.rockwellcollins.com.
