Mary-Louise Hoffman
Northrop Grumman has built and tested an air-based pod system for the U.S. Air Force to manage exchange of video, data and voice messages in real time during combat operations.
The Smart Node Pod worked to transmit air and ground warfighter communications through waveform and datalink channels during flight demonstrations in February over Virginia Beach, Va., Northrop said Wednesday.
Northrop conducted the tests to also demonstrate the pod’s interoperability with tactical handheld gadgets.
Jeannie Hilger, Northrop vice president for network communication systems, said the system is built to operate on a variety of military aircraft platforms as well as facilitate ISR and C2 data access.
The Air Force contracted Northrop to produce single- and multi-pod communication systems for the branch, with deliveries slated to occur through mid-summer of 2014.
Northrop also develops, operates and sustains battlefield airborne communications node platforms is support of U.S. Central Command activities.
