Scott Nicholas
Airbus, BAE Systems and General Dynamics have worked with the U.K. army to develop a concept demonstrator for a new tactical network technology designed to help frontline troops communicate with command headquarters.
BAE said Tuesday the service branch awarded the industry team a $1.6 million contract for the development and delivery of two experimental STRIKE Tactical Hotspot systems.
The Tactical Hotspot for the army medium STRIKE force was fitted to a customized Panther armored vehicle to aid maneuverability of the communications platform.
Steph McMenamin, U.K. deployed networks capture lead at BAE Systems, said the partnership builds on the company’s previous efforts to build the Falcon broadband voice, data and video communications system for the British military.
The experimental Hotspot works to integrate Falcon with the Bowman tactical communication and information system and satellite communications-on-the-move technology powered by 4G, WiFi and tactical data links.
