SPECTRUM L3Harris Communication Systems Publication I AUSA 2020 Edition

FEATURED | 12 OSCAR MIC CHECK

For the Integrated Tactical Network, the Future is Now | Page 8

Game-Changing Technology for the U.S. Marines | Page 10

Protected SATCOM: Dominating the Modern Battlefield | Page 18

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. Spectrum is a L3Harris Communication Systems publication. The magazine provides the most-up-to-date information about innovative technologies, products and customer solutions through interactive features and in-depth story telling. CONTENTS L3Harris Communication Systems Publication I AUSA 2020 Edition

NEWS BRIEFS 4 A NEW GENERATION OF NIGHT VISION TECHNOLOGY 6 The Hyper Enabled Warfighter, L3Harris’ latest force-multiplier supporting the U.S. military, fuses capabilities needed to successfully carry out a ground mission into one integrated system, providing next-generation Situational Awareness, lethality and connectivity for end users.

FOR THE INTEGRATED TACTICAL NETWORK, THE FUTURE IS NOW 8 L3Harris is demonstrating leading-edge technologies for the Army’s future Integrated Tactical Network – today.

GAME-CHANGING TECHNOLOGY FOR U.S. MARINES 10 L3Harris’ leading-edge mission solutions were on full display at Exercise Steel Knight 20. FEATURED ON COVER 12 THE HF COMMUNICATIONS RENAISSANCE 16 L3Harris’ high-frequency radio solutions provide On-the-Move OSCAR communications in satellite-denied environments. MIC CHECK PROTECTED SATCOM: DOMINATING THE MODERN BATTLEFIELD 18 As armed forces demand optimal levels of connectivity across SOF require flexible, increasingly contested operating environments, resilient and secure continues to extend its capability to provide protected Satellite Communications to customers around the world. communications on land, in the air and at sea. EXPANSION IN THE 20 One year removed from L3 Technologies’ merger with , the unified company, L3Harris Technologies, is pressing ahead with business expansion plans in the United Kingdom. Inside Cover photo: The L3Harris Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUMT) airborne data link system delivers secure commu- nications between manned and unmanned aircraft, RIDING THE WAVES DOWN UNDER 22 including the AH-64 Apache and MQ-1 Predator, and The objective: Demonstrate to the Australian Army that the ANW2®D troops on the ground. waveform is field-ready to perform as a key asset in their The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual future battlefield network. information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

LEARN MORE, One year after the merger of L3 Technologies VISIT OUR Non-Export Controlled Information VIRTUAL AUSA and Harris Corporation, L3Harris L3Harris Technologies is an agile global EXPERIENCE Technologies is an agile global aerospace and defense technology and defense technology company uniquely innovator, delivering end-to-end solutions positioned to deliver innovative, end-to-end that meet customers’ mission-critical needs. solutions, leveraging the industry-leading The company provides advanced defense and expertise of both legacy companies. commercial technologies across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains. L3Harris.com/Spectrum | 3 NEWS BRIEFS

First U.S. Army Unit Receives Enhanced Night Vision Goggle –Binocular L3Harris has completed delivery of 656 combat-ready Enhanced Night Vision Goggle – Binocular systems to the U.S. Army. This next-generation night vision technology enhances the soldier’s ability to locate and engage threats and access common operating environment imagery, improving Situational Awareness, mobility and protection.

U.S. Army Awards L3Harris with Third LRIP HMS Manpack Order L3Harris Technologies received a third Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) order valued at $95 million from the U.S. Army under the Handheld, Manpack & Small (HMS) Form-Fit Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to bring AN/PRC-158 multi-channel radios to the battlefield. This LRIP will be followed by an Operational Test that will inform a Full-Rate Production decision for the STORM-SLX Hits Delivery Milestone for U.S. Army AN/PRC-158 and other HMS products. L3Harris Technologies delivered the 3,000th STORM-SLX precision The IDIQ contract includes a five-year rangefinder to the U.S. Army earlier this year. The Small Tactical Optical base and an additional five-year option Rifle-Mounted laser rangefinder system is the smallest U.S. Army-qualified with a ceiling of $12.7 billion. The Army weapon-mounted laser rangefinder available to the dismounted soldier. Part of the expects to purchase approximately L3Harris STORM family of precision targeting systems, the STORM-SLX has extended 65,000 HMS Manpack radios under performance over its predecessor. The STORM family continues to be the only the IDIQ. U.S. Army-qualified laser rangefinders available for the dismounted soldier.

U.S. Marine Corps Awards L3Harris $383 Million Contract with Initial Delivery Order for HF Radios The U.S. Marine Corps awarded L3Harris Technologies a five-year, $383 million ceiling, single-award Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract — with an initial delivery order of $89 million — for AN/PRC-160 HF radios as part of the High Frequency Radio II program. The contract enables the Marine Corps and other Department of Defense services to procure L3Harris AN/PRC-160 HF radios and related equipment. U.S. branches of the Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force and Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) are all engaging in modernization efforts to meet evolving mission needs.

4 | Spectrum Magazine I AUSA 2020 TO READ MORE ABOUT L3HARRIS’ SUPPORT OF THE ARMY’S NETWORK MODERNIZATION EFFORTS, GO TO PAGE 8.

The U.S. Army is eying the AH-64 Apache, the E-variant of which is seen here equipped with the L3Harris Manned/Unmanned Teaming-eXpanded antenna, as one of the rotary-wing platforms to benefit from Air-Launched Effect capabilities.

Strengthening Army and then the launch platform can fire Aircraft Survivability a long-range precision munition – at An important element of the U.S. Army’s a significantly greater range than the U.S. Special Operations modernization priorities is the ability for Hellfire missiles currently on Apache,” Command Awards L3Harris rotary-wing attack aircraft to engage Webb said. “The net effect gives the Upgrade Contract adversaries outside their targets’ launching platform significantly more The U.S. Special Operations weapon system effective range. standoff [range], which provides more Command awarded L3Harris survivability for the aircraft and its Technologies a five-year, $100 million L3Harris is supporting several efforts crew members.” contract to upgrade and extend the toward this goal, including developing service life of its existing fleet of components for the service’s Air L3Harris is proposing a resilient approximately 550 L3Harris Very Launched Effects (ALE) program. datalink for ALE with a cutting-edge Small Aperture Terminals. The small unmanned aircraft, launched low-probability-of-detection, anti-jam from Army aircraft, will be capable of waveform, Webb said. The solution conducting numerous missions, but “meshes” the radio network so the the Army has prioritized the Detect, individual radios on ALE can coordinate Identify, Locate and Report (DILR) amongst each other through a cognitive mission. brain. This cognitive brain can support collaborative behaviors and lend itself ALE is part of a two-pronged concept to “swarming” configurations using supporting Army helicopters, including multiple aircraft to more expeditiously the currently fielded AH-64 Apache conduct its missions. and the next-generation Future Attack/Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA), The Army plans to conduct a series to identify and engage targets beyond of down-select decisions throughout the line of sight leveraging ALE and the course of the program until it has L3Harris Begins Work long-range precision munitions. prime contractors for the mission on JP2008 Ph 3H system, payload and air vehicle that will Sustainment Contract In the first phase of several in the comprise ALE. The Commonwealth of Australia Army’s “crawl-walk-run” approach selected L3Harris Technologies to this new technology, L3Harris will While the final concept of operations to deliver sustainment support conceive how ALE will achieve its DILR will depend on the success of numerous solutions for MTST satellite mission, according to Grant Webb, tests and experiments over the next few terminals, satellite phones, BGAN Army Business Development lead for years, the Army is also experimenting terminals and other communication L3Harris’ Broadband Communications with launching ALE from the MQ-1C equipment for the nation under sector. This phase’s five-month period of Grey Eagle unmanned aircraft and is a performance-based contract. performance began in September 2020. investigating the feasibility to leverage satellite communications for the The contract will run for at least “When ALE finds a target, it can send program, according to Webb. 14 months, from July 2020 the information to the launch platform, to mid-2021.

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

L3Harris.com/Spectrum | 5 A NEW GENERATION OF NIGHT VISION TECHNOLOGY

The Hyper Enabled Warfighter, a GPS-denied environment using L3Harris’ latest force-multiplier Augmented Reality (AR) digital compasses integrated into a supporting the U.S. military, heads-up display. fuses capabilities needed This operational vignette may be to successfully carry out fictional, but it demonstrates the “art of a ground mission into one the possible” for L3Harris Technologies’ integrated system, providing new Hyper Enabled Warfighter (HEW) concept, which is now available to force next-generation Situational components across the U.S. Department Awareness, lethality and of Defense (DOD). connectivity for end users. Comprising a collection of proprietary solutions designed, developed and integrated together by the company, HEW is designed to enhance the Situation Awareness, survivability, lethality and It’s dusk somewhere in eastern Europe, connectivity of Army, Navy and and a U.S. Army sniper team provides Air Force warfighters operating overwatch to an assault force tasked at the “tactical edge” against peer with recapturing critical national and near-peer adversaries. infrastructure from a highly capable enemy force. ANSWERING THE DOD’S CALL Operating in an extremely contested The HEW concept has been made environment, the sniper team is kitted possible through L3 Technologies’ with interconnected next-generation merger with Harris Corporation in June technologies, providing them the critical 2019, according to Lynn Bollengier, tactical advantage over the well-trained president of L3Harris Technologies and well-equipped opposing force. Communication Systems’ Integrated Vision Solutions. This allowed the As the assault force begins its final company to bring together an extensive approach toward the enemy position, range of specialist solutions already the sniper team employs the equipment suited to supporting the warfighter to detect, recognize and observe enemy against near-peer and high-capability combatants in low- and zero-light threats. The development of HEW follows conditions. All the while, they share a call-to-action from the DOD to pivot the feeds, targeting data and U.S. Armed Forces toward engagements other points of interest in near-real-time associated with the “Great Power with assault teams on the ground as well Competition” in addition to ongoing as a tactical operations center located counter-violent extremist organization Beyond-Line-Of-Sight. operations around the world. The technology also allows the sniper “The HEW will have actionable team to accurately guide assault teams information at their fingertips, supported to the target, helping them avoid through a cycle of interpretation, machine vulnerable areas and choke points. learning, Augmented Reality and Once the compound is cleared and Artificial Intelligence, all of which come LEARN ABOUT secured by coalition forces, the together to provide actual information THE L3HARRIS ensemble enables the sniper team to the warfighter in a seamless way,” LEADING-EDGE to regroup with the assault force in she said, noting the modular concept ENVG-B SOLUTION

6 | Spectrum Magazine I AUSA 2020 can be scaled to support a variety of being fielded by elements within the U.S. THE ‘SKY IS THE LIMIT’ end-user applications. “Coupled with Army and Special Operations Command. As Ames suggests, the “sky is the limit” great hardware, the HEW benefits from “The ENVG-B will truly be the greatest in terms of future capabilities of the HEW. increased field of view and surveillance, goggle that we’ve ever fielded,” Brig. Gen better image intensification and thermal “Once we get it out there, warfighters will Anthony W. Potts, PEO Soldier, said in an imagery at night, and laser performance see its benefits and will build upon it with Army statement last year. “The thermal to allow them to complete their job and things we didn’t even consider before,” channel has a day-night capability and return home safely.” Ames said. we’ve added in things like Augmented Reality.” HEW is already positioned to benefit from CONNECTING THE DOTS a string of near-term upgrades, including The modern warfighter has never Beyond this core capability of a the integration of edge computing, been so well-equipped, although head-mounted display and SDR, a on-body processing and tactical Cloud many sub-systems remain unable series of additional sub-systems can support, as well as artificial intelligence to communicate and cooperate with also be integrated into HEW to extend and machine learning algorithms. one another, according to Leith Ames, capability further. Options include L3Harris’ Business Development director L3Harris Technologies’ STORM 2 laser Additional upgrades on L3Harris’ for Army programs. rangefinder, ROVER 6 transceiver and HEW roadmap include cooperation the upcoming Next Generation Squad with autonomous platforms, including “Warfighters use a laser rangefinder to Weapon Fire Control System. unmanned aerial vehicles and confirm range and a weapon to observe autonomous underwater vehicles and engage,” he said. “They use night Further, HEW has been designed as in particular. vision devices to see at night. Most of the a plug-and-play solution capable of time, these pieces will work together, accommodating non-proprietary “We are interested in anything that but they will not ‘talk’ to each other or sub-systems including the U.S. Army’s allows the warfighter to receive the right utilize data from each other, which can Family of Weapon Sights-Individual. information very quickly and are working be fed into a central system to allow the with other elements within the company Networked through the U.S. Army’s warfighter to become more effective. to enable this moving forward,” Ames Adaptive Squad Architecture, all relevant That’s the gap out there: how do we tie said, noting L3Harris intends to continue battlefield information is projected into all of these systems together reliably in its internal research and development into the heads-up display of the ENGV-B/ a way that the warfighter can trust the HEW as the company strives to provide F-PANO, which immediately negates information coming to them?” best-in-class capabilities for warfighters any requirement for the warfighter today and in the future. “We continue Essentially, HEW has been designed to be distracted by a chest-mounted to receive tremendous support from to “empower and unburden” users during tablet or smartphone. This allows the corporate leadership, which illustrates engagements where they must remain warfighter to observe an objective over our commitment to get behind synergistic focused on the objective in front of them or around cover without presenting concepts like HEW. It is exciting to see this instead of being distracted by themselves as targets to the enemy. happen and see the HEW come to life.” heads-down displays. HEW ties together head-, weapon- and body-mounted sensors into a single, secure and wireless network, allowing operators to aggregate, exploit and share data with other end users across the larger battlespace. “The HEW takes all available data and provides actionable information at the right time to enable the warfighter to shoot, move and communicate more effectively,” Ames said. HEW is enabled by either L3Harris’ ground-breaking Enhanced Night Vision Goggles-Binocular (ENVG-B) or Fused Ground Panoramic Night Vision Goggle (F-Pano) helmet-mounted systems, and the AN/PRC-163 Software Defined Radio (SDR) – all of which are in the process of

L3Harris.com/Spectrum | 7 FOR THE INTEGRATED TACTICAL NETWORK, THE FUTURE IS NOW L3Harris is demonstrating leading-edge technologies for the Army’s future Integrated Tactical Network – today

The U.S. Army is hard at work on a interoperability. Whether information partner in L3Harris – one that can help network modernization strategy, which is shared from manned or unmanned bridge the capabilities gap between the the service says will lead to a force that is aerial assets, from soldiers on the current and future Army network. “ready to deploy, fight and win decisively ground or on the move, or from forward “Our resilient waveforms will allow against any adversary, anytime, operating bases and central command operators to communicate without anywhere, in a joint, multi-domain, high locations, L3Harris is demonstrating how interruption, denial or interception intensity conflict, while simultaneously robust and resilient communications from a threat,” Harrison said. “Our deterring others and maintaining our can be assured, jam-resistant and radio products host those waveforms ability to conduct irregular warfare.” uninterrupted. to allow soldiers to communicate on In order to achieve this strategic The name of the game is to enable the battlefield and allow platforms to imperative, Army Futures Command “simplicity, resiliency and mobility,” communicate ground-to-ground or air-to- officials say it is critically important for L3Harris officials say. ground.” the service to implement an Integrated Ken Harrison and Bill Seiss have L3Harris solutions’ open-architecture Tactical Network, or ITN, described had a front-row seat to the service’s design allows for streamlined integration as the “backbone of the Army’s main modernization efforts and the exciting of new waveforms that will provide operations.” developments underway with the new incremental improvements to meet The ITN concept leverages both U.S. Army Futures Command. As the the Army’s end-state of a “more- Programs of Record and Commercial- local L3Harris Communication Systems resilient, robust, protected tactical Off-The-Shelf components and transport representatives in Austin, Texas, communications network,” he added. capabilities. they have been listening carefully to The company is investing in products to understand the warfighter’s needs and address the Army’s goal to fight anytime, THE CORE OF THE NETWORK to ensure the command has a strong anywhere, according to Seiss. An operational test scheduled for January 2021 is the next major milestone toward ITN’s implementation. The test will evaluate the core of the concept – Handheld, Manpack and Small Form-Fit (HMS) radios. Several L3Harris solutions, including the Falcon®IV AN/PRC-158 multi-channel manpack and the AN/PRC-163 multi- channel handheld radio, are already Programs of Record that enhance the land service’s ability to reach its goal. In recent and upcoming tests, L3Harris Technologies is demonstrating how some of these core capabilities can enable a communications network that bridges the divide between multidomain voice and data. L3Harris radio networks leverage wideband capabilities to connect tactical asset voice, data and video together, and high-frequency and Satellite Communications to connect information for expedited decision-making and

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. 8 | Spectrum Magazine I AUSA 2020 “We’re looking at where the Army’s ability to breach enemy systems and get brought network modernization solutions going and what their goals are for the into the operating environment is part of to the table, which company officials network, and we’re incorporating those the construct.” believe could serve as the backbone of the future system linking all the soldiers’ capabilities into our products,” he said. The annual Network Modernization tools together. L3Harris is including automation and Experiment, or NETMODx, seeks improvements in antijam capabilities machine learning into its networks and LOOKING FORWARD in new radios crucial to securing C4I waveforms to make “smarter” radios As L3Harris prepares for a successful links as well as Manned Unmanned that can automatically choose the best HMS demonstration in January, it Teaming (MUM-T) communications. frequency in which to send information, continues to evolve its portfolio’s L3Harris already pioneered the high- according to Seiss. capabilities set to meet future demands. speed transmit-and-receive capability The key benefit of the company’s offering of wideband video and data between The company is launching a new Small is its use of multiple waveforms and U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopters Form Factor single-change radio solution channels in its radios, he said. and unmanned aircraft, including the for the Army this year and continues to “One of the Army’s goals is to have MQ-1C Grey Eagle; the recent experiment deliver Enhanced Night Vision Goggles- multiple means to communicate in case allowed L3Harris to test new waveforms Binocular and Satellite Communications one link goes down,” Seiss said. “These and begin coordinating next steps with capabilities to the service. Combined, multi-channel radios provide SATCOM – the Army. SFF and ENVG-B work harmoniously to create a complete situational awareness including the new Mobile User Objective Project Convergence is an annual system for ground troops, according to System – MANET networks and resilient “campaign of learning” to bring together company officials. waveforms all on one radio, providing the the weapons and capabilities it envisions warfighter with multiple options.” using in the 2030s and beyond in a Additionally, there are a several While L3Harris radios transport data, seamlessly networked environment. demonstrations in the next few months using L3Harris meshed SATCOM services voice and video across the battlefield, “To make [Artificial Intelligence, that the Army is looking to integrate into the company’s Satellite Communications autonomous and robotic capabilities in the ITN as the land service continues to solutions send information beyond the the air and on ground] work in a digital evaluate the system’s requirements. line of sight; night vision technology also environment, you have to have an offers soldiers the advantage in low-light underlying robust and resilient network, The L3Harris team is listening closely to operations, Harrison added. and you have to have a data architecture its Army customers to understand their “The Army validates their requirements and the data and the talent to put all mission needs as they operate across through experimentations and receives that together,” Army Futures Command all warfighting domains, and to provide immediate feedback from industry to try Commander Gen. Mike Murray told affordable solutions that will be required to reduce the time from development to Defense News in September 2020. of the near-term and future integrated network. fielding, which was taking too long in the While this year’s experiment mainly past,” Harrison said. “The Army is trying focused on weapon systems, L3Harris to build upon Programs of Record to go to the next level of development to provide greater capability for the network.”

RECENT EVENTS In parallel to preparations for the test in January, L3Harris is participating in several Army initiatives to test the current state of related technologies to HQ further enhance the ITN, including two Army demonstrations that concluded in the past month. These combined efforts are “really about being able to penetrate and breach enemy defense systems so that we can have access into theater,” Jeff Smith, vice president of L3Harris Communication Systems Business Development, said. L3Harris officials envision the company’s network modernization solutions as the backbone “Bringing in long-range fire, ground of a future system linking all the soldier’s tools together. Soldiers in the field can receive targets, air – fixed- and rotary-wing – at information from downrange aerial ISR via a link through manned aircraft. Tactical assets one time in the battlespace to give us the can also report back to Forward Operating Bases all in one integrated network.

L3Harris.com/Spectrum | 9 Recent field demonstrations provided the U.S. Marine Corps with an up-close perspective on the robust capabilities of the AN/PRC-117G Multiband Networking Manpack radio featuring the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) Satellite Communications waveform. In December 2019, the Marines evaluated MUOS and the software-upgraded AN/PRC-117G during a series of exercises at Steel Knight 20. There, the warfighters from the 1st Marine Division conducted a series of scenarios across multiple training sites in California and Arizona designed to simulate operations against peer and high-capability adversaries. “Adding this capability to the 117G enables the Marines to leverage the proven radios they have already deployed, GAME-CHANGING fought and trained with to access the advanced capabilities and capacity of the MUOS satellites with a simple software upgrade,” Dana Mehnert, president of L3Harris Communication TECHNOLOGY FOR Systems, said. “The MUOS upgrade also enables interoperability with other U.S. DOD and allied users who deploy this U.S. MARINES advanced capability.” Exercise Steel Knight 20 included the longest-range raid L3Harris’ leading-edge mission exercise in 14 years. It included 29 aircraft that transported solutions were on full display at ground troops from Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Exercise Steel Knight 20. California, to a simulated combat zone in Yuma, Arizona. Transmitting and receiving near-real-time updates during the long-range movement to the objective, the raid force commander was able to adjust and plan his raid based on any changes. The Beyond-Line-Of-Site (BLOS) and On-The-Move (OTM) capability offered by the AN/PRC-117G and MUOS led to a successful raid on the objective and met the commander’s intent for digital interoperability and Command-and-Control On-The-Move. Scenarios, which were designed to demonstrate Command-and-Control (C2) connectivity throughout entire MEET MUOS mission threads, saw MUOS employed throughout simulated The Mobile User Objective System, MUOS, is the U.S. Defense congested and contested battlespaces. AN/PRC-117Gs were Department’s next-generation Ultra HF tactical satellite operated by dismounted Marine Rifle Squads in addition to communications network. MUOS provides worldwide, BLOS being integrated on board a variety of Marine-specific platforms, voice and IP connectivity to the DOD Information Network including MV-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor air frames, HMMWVs, and (DODIN) via SIPR/NIPRnet. The MUOS network provides warfighters with unprecedented access to MILSATCOM Light Armored Vehicles – the latter of which were used to channels with robust connectivity, increased mobility and support amphibious assault operations. enhanced security. Overall, these capabilities provide the The exercise followed seven months in which U.S. Marine ability for MUOS-capable terminals to communicate in Corps Systems Command conducted a series of end-user underserved and disadvantaged environments connecting evaluations designed to assess the latest version of the MUOS to the DODIN anywhere in the world. SATCOM system.

10 | Spectrum Magazine I AUSA 2020 THE GAME-CHANGER “This thing has been a game changer,” Maj. Gen. Robert Castellvi, commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, said of MUOS during a speech at the annual West 2020 conference earlier this year. “It has bridged the digital divide gap we have between our higher headquarters, that require high-bandwidth systems into the battalion, and below command posts that are dependent on very narrowband systems…It fared remarkably well.” MUOS’ robust quality on the L3Harris terminals allows warfighters to communicate seamlessly when on the move, without needing to stop the mission to point antennas to regain communications, according to Marty LoBiondo, L3Harris’ product line management waveform director. “The idea that we can send a video with any of the four MUOS satellites or photo from the field to a command currently in GEO. “It allows users to stay connected even in post [using MUOS] shows we can The upgraded AN/PRC-117Gs had been sub-optimal conditions,” he said. “MUOS rapidly inform commanders with optimized to support the MUOS waveform provides the warfighter with significantly visual information so that commands in extreme latitudes. Historically, armed enhanced capabilities that enable new could potentially adjust battlespaces forces have struggled to maintain Line- tactics, techniques and procedures for to promote mission accomplishment Of-Sight connectivity to GEO satellites in communication Beyond-Line-Of-Sight.” and protect our troops.” these areas. Further, MUOS has allowed M777 and The Marine Corps is expected to operate Additional operational benefits of the HIMARS artillery assets to coordinate the MUOS waveform as it replaces upgraded MUOS waveform over legacy fires from longer distances with fewer legacy narrowband SATCOM capabilities. SATCOM systems include enhanced voice assets, Robert Brown, L3Harris’ lead Designed to ship data from the tactical quality and data support. sales engineer for Communication “edge” across the battlespace, MUOS Systems, said. relies upon a network of satellites in LOOKING FORWARD – NOW Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) Brown also highlighted the significant The Marine Corps is focused on MUOS in addition to base stations in Italy increase of MUOS in the Air Combat support of Marine Expeditionary Units and Australia. Element C2 community. (MEUs) in addition to naval vessels, according to Brown. The MUOS terminal is much less AN/PRC-117G UPGRADES burdensome on Marines than legacy Upgrades to the AN/PRC-117G have “The Marine Expeditionary Force has SATCOM systems, Jeff Wrobel, enabled the Marine Corps to ensure an been doing a lot of work with the MEUs L3Harris director of Navy and Marine “easy MUOS upgrade across the Corps recently to integrate the MUOS capability Corps Business, said of the system’s without recapitalizing its entire installed aboard the Amphibious Readiness Group operational advantages. base of radio systems,” Wrobel said. ships,” he said. “Once you program and turn it on, you’re L3Harris has also designed three The AN/PRC-117G and AN/PRC-158 pretty much ready to go,” he said. new antennas for operations on the MUOS software upgrade provides AN/PRC-117G to support the upgraded the Marines with a greater number of Sgt. Mason J. Roy, video chief MUOS waveform. SATCOM users, enhanced voice and data for Communication Strategy and communication, as well as robustness Operations at I MEF, echoed that These omni-directional antennas provide in disadvantaged environments where sentiment, saying the operational end users with OTM communications. they operate, such as urban and advantages of MUOS were evident They negate any requirement for end high/low latitude locations. during recent field exercises. users to “pan and tilt” antennas to align

L3Harris.com/Spectrum | 11 SPECIAL OPERATIONS TACTICAL COMMUNICATIONS OSCAR MIC CHECK

Critical to any special operation is communication with every member of a team, requiring simultaneous access to voice and data communications to enhance Command and Control (C2) and Situational Awareness (SA) across the battlefield.

However, a rapidly evolving operating environment is demanding even more of Special Operations Forces (SOF) operators who can be tasked with conducting the full spectrum of operations, ranging from counterterrorism and counterinsurgency missions to the support-to-resistance missions associated with great power competition. As a result, Special Operations Task Groups (SOTGs) operating on land, in the air or at sea are demanding flexible, resilient and secure communications solutions throughout operational theaters. Nowhere is this more prevalent than along NATO’s eastern flank in Europe, where U.S. and coalition SOTGs continue to have communications disrupted and/or intercepted by near-peer, peer and high-capability adversaries in the form of Russian armed forces. As defense sources associated with Ukrainian SOF and armed forces attest, Russian armed forces across the border, as well as proxy forces in the Donbas region, continue to employ mature electronic warfare concepts of operation, and tactics, techniques and procedures to create a C2-disrupted or -denied environment.

TACTICAL SOLUTIONS Communications solutions available to the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) as well as international SOF partner forces around the world range from handheld Software Defined Radios (SDRs) capable of being upgraded in the field with new waveforms and software, to larger manpack, vehicular and airborne radios that provide greater levels in output for enhanced range. One of the largest SDR providers to USSOCOM as well as the SOF require flexible, resilient and wider international SOF community is L3Harris Technologies, secure communications on land, which on Nov. 21, 2019 received its latest $86 million Full-Rate in the air and at sea. Production order as part of an overall $390 million contract to supply the command with Falcon® IV AN/PRC-163 Next-Generation Tactical Communications (NGTC) SDRs.

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. 12 | Spectrum Magazine I AUSA 2020 Speaking to Special Operations Outlook, ENHANCED CAPABILITY AN/PRC-163 SDRs can also be Jeff Kroon, L3Harris vice president of The introduction of the AN/PRC-163 networked to the Android Tactical Tactical Communications Engineering, NGTC provides a significant step-change Assault Kit (ATAK), which was designed illustrated a series of demand signals in the tactical communications capability by the U.S. Department of Defense as a OSCAR MIC CHECK arising from the special operations of SOF operators across USSOCOM. software solution to be viewed on end- communications market that led to the The dual-channel SDR is supported by user devices including smartphones. development and continued upgrade of the TSM-X™ Mobile Ad Hoc Network ATAK-enabled smartphones are already the AN/PRC-163 NGTC. (MANET) waveform, which is capable of in service throughout USSOCOM and connecting more than 200 nodes across “Globally, SOF users rely on the wider international SOF community, a battlespace into a single mesh network. communications to support mission providing operators with a “secure, flexibility, resiliency, operational The SDR provides multi-channel mobile, interactive geospatial tool [and] effectiveness and safety,” Kroon communications and can be connected common operational picture,” according said. “The focus is shifting from to L3Harris’ ISR video mission module to to a USSOCOM spokesperson. counterinsurgency missions to readiness support close air support and joint fires amidst near-peer threats, thus increasing support, for example. the need for resilience and protection from electronic attacks of all kinds.” This shift is causing many countries to recapitalize their tactical communications solutions with the latest and greatest solutions in the market, according to Kroon. This means new radios, new waveforms and new levels of security. “Resilience, survivability and adaptability are key aspects to communications in modern warfare, and new requirements for cyber hardening are vital as the tactical IP network extends to the edge,” Kroon said. Specifically, L3Harris has warned how legacy IP-based waveforms and radios with inadequate security now represent The DOD’s ATAK software provides operators with enhanced Command and a vulnerable entry point to an otherwise Control and Situational Awareness in addition to ability to control close air secure network that extends to a larger support and other specialist mission capabilities. wide area network throughout the modern battlespace. “Type 1 NSA-certified encryption is In October 2019, L3Harris announced USSOCOM personnel generally wear paramount in protecting these tactical the first Full-Rate Production order ATAK as a chest-mounted solution edge networks, and, in turn, the entire for the AN/PRC-163. or as a standalone end-user device wide area network to which it connects,” used to support tactical chat, Link 16 “We are delivering these two-channel Kroon said. “Uncertified equipment, datalink connectivity, HALO/HAHO handheld radios at an escalating such as commercially available military freefall, route planning and pace to meet the increasing demand,” and programmable radios, are not , in addition to radio controls, Kroon said. “As with any of our government tested for vulnerabilities the spokesperson added. Software Defined Radios, the such as malware introduction, spoofing AN/ PRC-163 becomes more capable Traditional VHF/UHF (30-512 MHz) or other types of electronic threats with every new firmware release. Line-Of-Sight communications will that could compromise SOF operator The introduction of new mission remain the backbone of all SOF safety. SOF requirements around the modules, like the ISR Generation communications, on the ground and for world are transitioning to fully resilient 2 mission module, allows the rapid ground-to-air coordination. communications waveforms and insertion of new capabilities into the cyber-protected hardware assets.” “We are seeing the convergence tactical formation without the need of ISR and tactical communications of a separate device, additional connectors or batteries.” Continued

L3Harris.com/Spectrum | 13 variants of the AN/PRC-167 NGTC, Dâmaso also highlighted the also contracted to USSOCOM. interception and deception of tactical communications by Russian armed Company officials said the new forces operating in Ukraine as well dual-channel manpack was planned as demand signals to support urban to be unveiled to the market at the operations in contested environments. SOF Industry Conference in May 2020. However, SOFIC was canceled due to the “Today, there are several solutions COVID-19 pandemic and was changed to to enable the tactical non-GNSS a virtual conference. L3Harris described [Global Navigation Satellite System] the new technology as a “game changer” navigation and localization through for USSOCOM force components. inertial, RF [radio frequency]-based and smartphone-based solutions,” he said. The Polish Special Operations Component Command (POL SOCC) Finally, the threat of Low Probability of L3Harris Technologies’ AN/PRC-163 received four Sikorsky S-70i Black Intercept/Detection by peer adversaries Next Generation Tactical Communications Hawk helicopters in December 2019 across the contemporary operating (NGTC) Software Defined Radio continues as it seeks to maintain similar levels to be rolled out across USSOCOM of interoperability with its USSOCOM as well as “Five Eyes” partners. partners. Industry sources associated with solutions into a single tactical the POL SOCC said the organization communications ensemble on the is seeking to upgrade the airframe’s operators,” Kroon said. “MANET communications solution with L3Harris [waveforms] are gaining momentum and SDR technology to ensure interoperability extending tactical IP networks to the with the remainder of POL SOCC’s edge. Every operator can be equipped communications devices, as well as with a radio and an End User Device.” U.S. and international SOF partners. Dual-channel handhelds provide the According to Poland’s Defense Minister ability to support 30-512 MHz, Satellite Mariusz Blaszczak, the procurement of Communications, tactical MANETs the airframes will “ensure interoperability and ISR in a single device, providing with the rapid reaction forces of NATO.” the flexibility and adaptability that the SOF commands, including the Swiss dynamic SOF operator needs for all Special Forces Command (KSK) – stages of a mission, while removing the which is in the process of upgrading need to carry multiple legacy devices. force elements with a variety of SDR The demand is out there for faster solutions – continue to upgrade their frequency hopping, faster data and communications capabilities. more resilience, and new waveforms are always under development by Maj. Marco Dâmaso, system portfolio governments and industry. manager for special units, Swiss Armed Forces, Armed Forces Planning, said the “As new waveforms are developed and KSK is interested in the capability to run released, the multi-channel devices are battle management system software as well equipped to allow the introduction well as capacity to support navigation in of new capabilities into the tactical C2-denied or -degraded environments. networks while still providing a fallback A competition will be initiated in 2021, plan or interoperability with adjacent with program completion by 2025. conventional forces or partner forces,” Kroon said. Additionally, active-duty units within the KSK, which include the Army PACKED UP Reconnaissance Detachment 10 and SOF commands within NATO and the Military Police Special Detachment “Five Eyes” community are seeking to Unit, are expected to evaluate MANET maintain interoperability with USSOCOM High Data Rate personal radios with the partner forces; meanwhile, L3Harris aim to “increase connectivity and allow potential new capabilities” in the future. continues to develop the manpack The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

14 | Spectrum Magazine I AUSA 2020 environment continues to drive a support the backhaul link as well operating environment, the importance resurgence in High Frequency (HF) as intel from the edge. of secure, resilient and flexible tactical throughout the SOF community, which communications looks set to remain “These new innovations, combined is driving some NATO forces to continue a priority for commanders moving with modern encryption algorithms to pursue requirements for such a forward – especially given that they and backward-compatibility with capability that is harder to disrupt and are a “gateway” to the enabling of legacy HF systems, are driving many comprises a low-cost alternative to next-generation capabilities, including SOF organizations to modernize their Satellite Communications (SATCOM). Augmented Reality and Artificial HF fleet,” he added. “Concerns about Intelligence/machine learning-assisted “Special operations forces around SATCOM-denied environments also drive decision-making. the world continue to invest in HF many users to HF. HF nets have no single communications,” Kroon said. “HF point of failure, and that’s the flexibility radios are now smaller and faster than that SOF communicators require.” previous generations. With innovations As USSOCOM and international SOF in the areas of resiliency and wideband Edited and reprinted with permission by partners continue to urgently predict data, HF offers more flexibility to the Faircount Media Group. Special Forces and equip for an uncertain future Outlook. May 2020. SOF community than ever. HF can

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“We are seeing the convergence of ISR and tactical communications solutions into a single tactical communications ensemble on the operators. MANET [waveforms] are gaining momentum and extending tactical IP networks to the edge; every operator can be equipped with a radio and an end user device.”

Jeff Kroon Vice President, Tactical Communications Engineering L3Harris Communication Systems

L3Harris.com/Spectrum | 15 THE HF COMMUNICATIONS RENAISSANCE

As combat environments, including space, become more contested, military customers require easy-to-use robust, cost-effective Beyond-Line-Of-Sight communications in the absence of satellite availability. U.S. armed forces have renewed interest in L3Harris Technologies’ high-frequency communications solutions, including the Falcon III® AN/PRC-160 High Frequency (HF) radio. The U.S. Army announced last October that it had ordered more than 1,500 AN/PRC-160 HF radios. The U.S. Marine Corps followed suit that December and informed L3Harris of a $50 million follow-on delivery order for the radios as part of its High Frequency Radio II (HFR II) modernization program. And, in March 2020, the Marine Corps awarded L3Harris a five-year, $383 million ceiling, single-award Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract — with an initial delivery order of $89 million — for Falcon III AN/PRC-160 HF radios as part of its High Frequency Radio II program. L3Harris’ high-frequency “HFR II will fill much of the same needs that the legacy HFR system provide: long- radio solutions provide haul communications, and the primary backup mode of communications in a Satellite On-the-Move Communications-denied environment,” Leigh King, Marine Corps Systems Command’s project officer for the HFR II, said in a Marine Corps Systems Command press release. communications in satellite-denied As the global leader in tactical communications, L3Harris Technologies is on the cutting edge of advancements in HF communications. Through continuous innovation, our environments. radios and related equipment deliver new and enhanced capabilities never before possible with legacy HF radios.

16 | Spectrum Magazine I AUSA 2020 HISTORY, ADVANTAGES AND CHALLENGES High-frequency radio communications have been an element of civil and military communications for decades. With the inherent ability to communicate at distances that span the globe, HF has provided an accessible and versatile tool for long-haul communications. The AN/PRC-160 is a modern solution for Beyond-Line-Of-Sight During World War II, for example, communications in a satellite-denied environment. It is the smallest, HF communications were the lightest and fastest wideband HF manpack available – providing 10X primary means for ship-to-shore throughput over legacy systems. The wideband system also is the world’s and ground-to-air communications. only HF manpack meeting new NSA crypto-modernization standards. Adjusting HF and antenna orientation enables radio waves to either traverse the ground (ground or surface wave) or LEARN MORE capacity for more robust and resilient data refract off the ionosphere (sky wave); this ABOUT FALCON transmission. Today’s HF radios are vastly flexibility results in communications that RADIOS more capable of transmitting both voice can penetrate thick tree canopies, reach and data, while additionally offering the into valleys and provide reliable voice resiliency needed by forces in contested communications over long distances. environments. Effective HF communications have of a modernized HF system. Additionally, been seen as a skill to be mastered. THE CUTTING EDGE OF HF RADIOS L3Harris designed its wideband HF An understanding of environmental In 2012, L3Harris delivered the manpack with the intelligence to conditions, antenna takeoff angle, signal RF-7800H-MP, the first wideband HF downgrade real-time to a narrowband amplification and frequency propagation manpack with bandwidths up to 24 kHz STANAG 4538 system for legacy are all elements to consider for successful and data rates up to 120 Kbps. This radio interoperability. These design choices communications over HF. When any was specifically designed to provide HF showcase L3Harris’ commitment to one of these elements is miscalculated, advantages for international partners. innovation and commitment to making communications will be unsuccessful HF more powerful and easier for the As the next-generation HF radio system — for instance, selecting a high-HF warfighter to use. was being designed for delivery to the frequency with the wrong antenna takeoff field, L3Harris purposefully took into In 2017, L3Harris announced the angle could result in radio waves piercing consideration the 130 countries around release of the AN/PRC-160, the first the ionosphere and never refracting to the world where legacy HF systems wideband HF manpack meeting new desired receive radio. Though HF has were deployed. L3Harris designed a NSA crypto-modernization standards. been a powerful tool, it has taken mastery solution that could leverage the existing Its software-defined architecture allows of communicators to harness the power. infrastructure and ease the technical waveform and encryption updates, Legacy HF systems were typically limited and logistical burden of upgrading; giving mission-critical information added to relatively narrow bandwidth allocations. installations could be left intact — all layers of security and future extensibility. In the past, HF radios utilized bandwidth ancillaries, including antennas, antenna Consistent with the versatility and power in the range of 3 kHz, which is sufficient couplers, power amplifiers and cables, of HF, L3Harris focused its internal for voice and low data rates but lacks the could be reused — and reap the benefits development funding to pursue extremely robust and resilient waveforms to be used across the battlespace.

COMING NEXT Adjusting L3Harris has led major developments HF frequency in tactical communications over many and antenna decades and continues to push the orientation envelope by adding even more resilient enables radio waveforms and last-ditch voice and waves to either data capabilities to the software defined traverse the ground (ground architecture. While HF may represent one or surface wave) of the oldest means of long-distance voice or refract off the communications, make no mistake, HF is ionosphere in high demand and offers enduring value (sky wave). to the warfighter.

L3Harris.com/Spectrum | 17 PROTECTED SATCOM: DOMINATING THE MODERN BATTLEFIELD

As armed forces demand optimal levels of connectivity across increasingly contested operating environments, L3Harris Technologies continues to extend its capability to provide protected Satellite Communications to customers around the world.

Customers worldwide are becoming increasingly concerned about the proliferation and emerging sophistication of threats across the Electromagnetic Spectrum and their potential effects on Satellite Communications (SATCOM) capabilities, according to L3Harris Technologies officials.

However, as Don Claussen, L3Harris’ vice an organization needs to spread In April 2020, the U.S. Space Force’s president and general manager of Army, its communications, more bandwidth Space and Missile Systems Center International and SATCOM programs, is required. awarded L3Harris a $500 million explained, protected SATCOM should contract to supply the Air Force and Army “That’s why there has to be a be viewed as a “huge game changer” Anti-Jam Modem, which will provide two-pronged approach to protected for armed forces seeking to overcome warfighters with a secure, wideband SATCOM, reliant upon bespoke systems these challenges. and anti-jam SATCOM terminal to enable in addition to capacity being put up by tactical communications in contested Protected SATCOM is a “key driver” commercial providers, especially in environments. in dominating the modern battlespace, Ka-band,” he said. according to Claussen. The deployment of the modems, which Protected SATCOM can be ensured represents an important part of L3Harris’ “In order to do that, you have to through the development of specialist growing Protected Anti-Jam Tactical communicate and know your adversary waveforms as well as diversity in Service Enterprise, allows armed forces is going to try and deny communications,” transmissions achieved through the to share critical mission data via resilient he said. “So it’s critical that we have deployment of highly customized satellite and secure SATCOM in the face of protected SATCOM and Line-Of-Sight constellations and ground architectures. jamming by high-capability adversaries. communications.” As an example, L3Harris continues to Considering how diverse ground As electronic warfare threats continue, support the U.S. Air Force’s Protected architectures can also enable protected shielding communications from jamming Tactical Enterprise Service, which SATCOM, Claussen said L3Harris and inclement weather is extremely includes the company’s Protected Tactical continues to explore multiple terminal important, he added. But, there’s a cost Waveform and Network Centric Waveform concepts operating in Ka, Ku and X bands, associated with this: the more Resilient – both of which provide the end capable of aggregating data so spacecraft user with anti-jam capabilities. can spread it across multiple hub nodes.

18 | Spectrum Magazine I AUSA 2020 BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONS L3Harris Technologies Broadband Communications capabilities provide secured mobile networked communications equipment and integration to meet a wide array of U.S. military mission requirements.

Air Force and Army Anti-Jam Modem (A3M) A3M provides the Air Force and Army with a secure, wideband, anti-jam Satellite Communications terminal modem for tactical SATCOM operations. L3Harris modems are optimized for high-rate production and are designed to become an integral part of the service’s growing Protected Anti-Jam Tactical Service enterprise. Earlier this year, the U.S. Space Force Space and Missile Systems Center awarded L3Harris a five-year, $500 million ceiling IDIQ contract to use the modem for its branch’s operations.

Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW) Several airborne and ground-based platforms and thousands of terminals across the U.S. Defense Department have been identified as transition candidates to the Protected Tactical Waveform. A3M directly supports the U.S. Air Force’s Protected Tactical SATCOM Claussen highlighted activities of and increases anti-jam and communications capacity for joint tactical commercial SATCOM providers including warfighters in contested environments. SpaceX, which continues to develop The Protected Tactical SATCOM program will implement PTW over a its Starlink Low Earth Orbit constellation transponded satellite and a future fully processed satellite, enabling to deliver low-latency and broadband adaptive, anti-jam communications channels, which will provide some of internet to consumers anywhere the highest levels of protect for tactical U.S. and coalition/international in the world. partner warfighting efforts. “Starlink has distributed ground stations similar to a cellular model, which are geographically dispersed providing it with some real resiliency there,” Claussen we sometimes need to partner to deliver to take the best of breed from both said. “An uplink jammer is not going to be the best solution,” Claussen said. “That’s companies to provide an optimal solution able to cover all that ground.” our focus, and I think we are doing an for our government customers,” he said. extremely good job delivering it.” L3Harris is currently supporting a similar Simper also identified the growing concept on behalf of the U.S. Army with Similar thoughts were shared by Loran number of classified protected SATCOM SpaceX and SES. The Multi Orbit Satellite Simper, vice president of Air Force and programs emerging from the defense and Service program is scheduled to be Classified Programs within L3Harris’ security sector. Broadband Communications Systems, demonstrated to the Army in in October “This is a great growth area for L3Harris, who said the company continues to invest 2020. The goal is integrating commercial and we are witnessing a tremendous in Low Probability of Intercept/Detection and bespoke protected SATCOM uptick in satellite procurements, mainly waveforms that allow end users networks in Low Earth, Medium Earth in the classified area,” he added, noting to communicate undetected and Geosynchronous orbits. work included developments in crosslink in contested environments. “Industry as a whole has to come technology, protected waveforms together – we have all of these specific “Both L3 and Harris were working and processing capabilities on-board DOD programs that we are pursuing for this capability in different avenues, spacecraft. protected SATCOM, but, at the same time, so following the merger, we were able

L3Harris.com/Spectrum | 19 EXPANSION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

One year removed from L3Harris UK is currently under contract with General Dynamics UK to support L3 Technologies’ merger and maintain the 50,000 BOWMAN with Harris Corporation, tactical radios in service with the the unified company, L3Harris 10 British Army. sites Technologies, is pressing ahead “We are moving into a new era for with business expansion plans our supply and support to the MoD in the United Kingdom. as we transition into the MORPHEUS 1,700 timeframe,” Norton said. personnel MORPHEUS, the British Army’s Today, L3Harris employs approximately next-generation tactical communications 1,700 personnel across 10 sites in the program, represents a significant United Kingdom, focused on the delivery growth opportunity for L3Harris UK. of a wide range of defense and security protecting communications, especially This includes supplying combat-proven capabilities to the Ministry of Defence as the world becomes an ‘Internet of resilient tactical radios as well as repair (MoD) and other government agencies, Things,’” Mackay said. “We are very keen and maintenance, waveforms, encryption as well as supporting a broad European to provide protection as people move and cyber security services. around huge amounts of data.” customer base. “Our new $100 million facility investment Spread across the four business L3Harris UK also highlighted strong in Farnborough provides us with a solid segments of L3Harris Technologies, growth potential in its Communication foundation to support the MoD over the the U.K. businesses operate in land, air, Systems segment. Keith Norton, L3Harris foreseeable future,” Norton said. “U.K. sea, space and cyber domains. UK’s vice president of Europe and forces need solutions to address the Canada, said there is “great potential” re-emergence of the near-peer EW The business is in “good shape” in the moving forward post-merger. threat. L3Harris’ experience in defeating face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, such threats across all domains provides In September 2019, the Communication which brought most of the United us with the opportunity to directly feed Systems segment moved into a purpose- Kingdom and Europe to a near-standstill this experience back to the UK MoD.” this past spring, according to L3Harris built 80,000-square-foot facility in UK vice president Graeme Mackay, who Farnborough, Hampshire – the United L3Harris UK is in full support of the is tasked with assisting the coordination Kingdom’s defense and aerospace MoD’s Information Advantage strategy across these business segments. hub. With 50,000 square feet set aside and is prepared to provide “significant for the production, assembly, repair capability enhancements though the Mackay outlined L3Harris UK’s role in and maintenance of secure tactical provision of world-class adaptable and cyber security and ensuring resilient communications equipment, the factory flexible solutions for the MORPHEUS connectivity across the contemporary space is “flexible and adaptable for program,” he added. operating environment. whatever task we need to take on,” “L3Harris UK is ideally positioned to Norton said. support the MoD’s requirements for

20 | Spectrum Magazine I AUSA 2020 The MoD has access to next-generation L3Harris tactical radio products developed in the United States as well as L3Harris UK’s internal research- and-development expertise according to Norton. Tactical radios have moved on significantly from the BOWMAN era, and the company’s radios are all now software defined. “This enables us to make them future-proof by adding new waveforms post-procurement as threat, waveform in different frequency bands, and and we offer interoperability with U.S. technology and standards evolve,” they can also crossband within the and other allied forces ‘out of the box.’” Norton said. “This gives greater radio. This allows them to be used as Additional areas of interest for confidence to procurers and moves gateways linking different levels in the the Communication Systems away from being locked into one solution communications hierarchy.” segment include the MoD’s Future for the life of the equipment. Two areas For example, one channel could be Beyond-Line-Of-Sight and SATCOM where L3Harris has made significant on a tactical network with a robust terminal requirements. advances are HF and multi-channel waveform while the other channel could radios in both manpack and handheld Across Europe, L3Harris UK is also be on a mid-tier backbone or tactical form factors.” engaging in opportunities in tactical satellite backhaul. communications modernization, For example, the AN/PRC-160 HF/VHF “It’s a game changer in designing including significant programs being manpack offers a vast throughput and deploying communications undertaken in Germany, the Netherlands advantage compared to the BOWMAN architectures,” Norton said. “The and Norway. HF, which was limited to 2.4 kbps. ability to leverage from these advances By contrast, the AN/PRC-160 supports “Many European nations are looking at across our product portfolio using 10 times the throughput of legacy HF refreshing their tactical communications our U.K.-based engineering and systems and is a viable alternative systems from the ‘digitization era,’ so production facilities allows us to take to SATCOM for long-range data right now there are a number of very this type of product and tailor to U.K. communications. large programs underway,” Norton said. requirements. Our Farnborough facility “We are taking a coordinated view across “Our multi-channel radios, such as the is List-X-accredited, and we have U.K. these, and we are architecting solutions AN/PRC-163 handheld, combine two security-cleared engineering resources based upon a common core with complete radios in a single chassis,” so essential to MORPHEUS. In addition, localized elements and features.” Norton said. “These radios have the interoperability for coalition operation is capability to run different waveforms vitally important to all European nations, “We are moving into a new era for our supply and support to the MoD as we transition into the MORPHEUS timeframe.”

Keith Norton L3Harris UK’s vice president of Europe and Canada

L3Harris.com/Spectrum | 21 RIDING THE WAVES DOWN UNDER

L3Harris Technologies demonstrated field-readiness of the newly developed Advanced Networking Wideband ANW2®D waveform during a large-scale demonstration at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, Australia.

Over five days and covering an area But theories are for the lab, and practice roughly the size of the state of Rhode is for the field — and, in this case the field Island, the L3Harris team tested the could not be any more challenging. In ANW2D waveform for data capacity, addition to the long distances, the terrain scalability and its ability to handle voice at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area and data across an extended network. featured dense tropical and sub-tropical foliage, significant mountain ranges and “I think the collaboration working steep canyons. None of the topography together with the ADF and companies, was friendly for sending radio signals and, in this case, L3Harris is absolutely between fixed positions, let alone mobile critical to the success of the program,” operators traveling along roads that were said Alan Callaghan, president typically at the valley floor. and managing director of L3Harris Communications Australia.”We relish the opportunity, such as field exercises, to get with the end users and investigate and address issues and challenges as THE OBJECTIVE: a team, which is what it should all be Demonstrate to the Australian about – being one team.” Army that the ANW2®D waveform is In the 12 months leading up to the field-ready to perform as a key asset in activity, the L3Harris team supporting the Australia-based LAND 200-2 their future battlefield network. Tactical Communications Network (TCN) conducted two lab demonstrations involving 40 and 81 nodes.

22 |22 Spectrum | Spectrum Magazine Magazine I AUSA I AUSA 2020 2020 “The digitalization of the TCN offers leave/join times and quality of service. The ANW2D waveform and L3Harris us that advantage, and, similarly when In total, the technical objectives gave the radios were put to a true test when we get into weapons integration of the Army a “real-world” assessment of the the exercise became very real. Brush battle management system that the TCN ANW2D waveform’s performance. fires forced the evacuation of all enables, [it] is a real game changer,” personnel and resulted in the early More than 20 L3Harris Australia said Col. Deane Limmer, director of the conclusion of the field demonstration. employees provided radio installation, Land, Command, Communications and The AN/PRC-158 radios using ANW2D operation, training and field support. Control Program for the Australian Army. were then used to coordinate the The Australian Army involved more than “The TCN becomes the glue in which we evacuation. The radios’ GPS tracking 40 uniformed and civilian personnel connect broader land capability.” and sharing capabilities were especially to provide logistics and direct technical helpful to those directing teams to safe routes away from the fires. While there will be similar exercises “The TCN as the Australian Army builds its becomes the future battlefield network, the field glue in which we demonstration provided the Army connect broader validation that the ANW2D waveform will land capability.” perform as expected and demonstrated Col. Deane Limmer exceptional cooperation between Director of Land, Command, L3Harris and the L200-2 Project Office. Communications and In continuous pursuit of excellence, the Control Program for demonstration yielded helpful technical the Australian Army data and other takeaways L3Harris will use to refine the L200-2 TCN. “Digitizing the Army is a very difficult thing to do,” said Limmer. “Certainly, the TCN tactical communications The demonstration involved support. Working together over 10 days, networks are at the heart of that 25 Australian Army Mercedes numerous exercises simulated realistic challenge, and certainly, it is the core G-Wagon 6x6 vehicles, kitted out with deployment patterns. enabler for taking the next step in the AN/PRC-158 radios and using a The combination of static and mobile Army’s digitization journey.” customer-developed data analysis tool. nodes spread across a wide area, During each activity serial, the vehicles with varying terrain, stretched the were both mobile and static, simulating network. The field activity successfully three combat teams and enabling demonstrated the adaptability of the Army to test performance against the ANW2D waveform in different six technical objectives: scalability, deployment scenarios and capabilities, waveform ID performance, waveform such as simultaneous voice and data. queue management, capacity, network

L3Harris.com/Spectrum | 23 ONE TEAM. EVERY MISSION.

L3Harris delivers world-class solutions to the elite professionals who dedicate their lives to safety, security, rescue and freedom. We continue to elevate the standards of handheld, weapon- and helmet-mounted electro-optical night-fighting equipment deployed in the toughest environments. Our enduring mission is to deliver the industry’s most advanced and integrated precision targeting, night vision and imaging solutions for a safer world.

L3HARRIS.COM

L3H-118702Lm_NightVision_LandWarInternational_205x273.indd 1 9/17/19 3:07 PM Use of U.S. DoD visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.