Ross Wilkers
Raytheon“™s missile systems unit will develop high speed mobile wireless hot spots for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Nextgov reports.
According to Bob Brewin’s story, the company will run the hot spots in a high-frequency band to deliver video and broadband data communications to infantry, platoons and companies with links to unmanned aerial vehicles.
DARPA intends to test two backbone links for each ground node and up to four links for drones, according to the report.
Tests will also occur at mobile hot spots in three ground stations and in two pods mounted in the wings of the RQ-7 Shadow aircraft.
The agency wants a mobile communications backbone capacity to link remote and mobile warfighters with forward operation bases; higher echelon tactical operations centers; remote intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sources; and fixed communications infrastructure.
Brewin reports the program requires gigabit-speed radios with steerable antennas and automated pointing, signal acquisition and tracking.
Raytheon and DARPA are also developing technology for helping unmanned aerial vehicles carry out humanitarian missions.
