Airbus has successfully completed a flight demonstration of a connected airborne battlespace scenario, centred on a MRTT aircraft. The test was carried out as part of the development of Airbus’ Network for the Sky (NFTS) programme. This follows on from...
To read the full article, please log in or enter your email below:
Airbus has successfully completed a flight demonstration of a connected airborne battlespace scenario, centred on a MRTT aircraft.
The test was carried out as part of the development of Airbus’ Network for the Sky (NFTS) programme. This follows on from last August’s demonstration in Canada of secure mobile communications using a stratospheric balloon to simulate a HAPS (High Altitude Pseudo Satellite), such as Airbus’ Zephyr UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle).
NFTS combines various technologies - satellite and ground communications, air-to-ground, ground-to-air and air-to-air tactical links, 5G mobile communications and laser connections - in a resilient, unified, secure, highly interoperable, mesh network. Aircraft, UAVs and helicopters currently use networks with limited bandwidth and interoperability, and often little resilience. NFTS will allow them to form an integral part of high-speed military networks.
“This unique demonstration is a significant milestone in realising our vision of secure connectivity, which will enable the future air combat cloud and enhance real time execution of military missions,” said Evert Dudok, Head of Communications, Intelligence & Security at Airbus Defence and Space.
The demonstration scenario simulates the establishment of multi-Mbit/s, wideband communication links between ground forces operatives, a fighter jet, a MRTT, and a combined air operations centre (CAOC) on the ground. Both the operatives and jet fighter had to send video in real time to provide enhanced real-time situational awareness and receive instructions from the CAOC in return.
The operative located in Getafe (Spain) was equipped with a standard handheld radio for NATO forces (ROVER). The fighter was deployed to obtain imagery of the area of interest and act as a communications node between the operative and the MRTT flying at 30,000 feet within a 150 km radius in secure airspace. Communications were thus relayed between the fighter jet and the MRTT, via a wideband LOS (line-of-sight) data link. The MRTT then routed the video along with its own communications via a wideband satellite link to a space teleport near Washington, D.C. The communications flow was then returned to Europe via a terrestrial link to the CAOC.
This complex scenario demonstrates the real-time operation of secure end-to-end communications across different networks and technologies: ground-air tactical link, air-air wideband link between two aircrafts, air-satellite relay and terrestrial networks. This type of configuration, known as a ‘hybrid network’, represents the future of military communications and meets the needs of armed forces to be able to use a wide range of networks while allowing these to be managed dynamically and transparently. The solutions developed by Airbus thus allow secure IP (Internet Protocol) communications to be established, links to be reconfigured in real time and the available bandwidth to be allocated to data links based on operational priorities.
For this demonstration an MRTT aircraft has been equipped with Janus, Airbus’ new tri-band (Ku-Ka-MilKa) satellite antenna, as well as the latest version of the Proteus satellite modem, which is highly resilient against interference and jamming, and Airbus’ aircraft links integration management system (ALIMS).
This exercise paves the way for the development of the core capability for SMART MRTT connectivity, which will allow the MRTT to act as a high-end communication node. Network for the Sky (NFTS) sets the foundation for the connected airborne battlespace, with the objective to offer a full operational capability by 2020. The NFTS programme is part of Airbus’ Future Air Power project and is fully aligned with the development of the European Future Combat Air System (FCAS).
L3Harris Technologies has received a US$90 million follow-on, sole-source contract from U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command to further advance…
In an unprecedented decision, the Israeli government has approved the establishment of a new subsidiary of Rafael Advanced Combat Systems…
The Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) has signed a contract with Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, to equip 12 CH-53K…
Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram has been appointed as the new Director General of the Israel Ministry of Defence (IMOD)…
The Australian Government has signed a $200 million agreement with the United States to acquire additional MK-48 Heavy Weight Torpedoes…
SpearUAV has completed a funding round led by Deep Insight venture fund, with participation from existing and new private investors.…
Qantas Freight has partnered with CargoAi to expand its digital distribution, allowing freight forwarders to book capacity on selected Qantas…
Korean business aviation operator K-Aviation has received the country's first corporate ACH160 helicopter. The aircraft will be added to its…
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has received EMAR/FR 145 Maintenance Organisation Approval from the French Military Continuing Airworthiness Authority,…
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) has placed an order for 18 Boeing 737-8 and 12 Boeing 737-10 aircraft to modernise Malaysia…
Liebherr and SkyWest Airlines have signed an agreement for the overhaul of landing gear systems on SkyWest’s fleet of Embraer…
EDGE Group entities POWERTECH and ADASI have agreed on the first order for POWERTECH’s P145i combustion engine. The engine, designed…
Safran Electronics & Defense has secured a contract from the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) to supply Multi-Mission Parachutes to…
Spectra Group (UK) Ltd has been assisting the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in improving their strategic communications capabilities,…
Sky Power International has supplied propulsion units for the Nimkii 42-S (N42-S), an unmanned aerial system (UAS) developed by Canadian…
Constellation Technologies & Operations (CTO) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with telecom infrastructure company TDF to collaborate on…
Embraer will participate in the Avalon Airshow in Australia from 25 to 30 March 2025, highlighting its role in the…
AAR CORP. has announced the appointment of Hema Widhani to its Board of Directors, effective 18 March 2025. Her election…
Teledyne FLIR OEM, a subsidiary of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, has announced the release of Prism SKR, an embedded software designed…
SITA and Orange Business have renewed their long-standing partnership for another five years, continuing a collaboration that began in 2001.…
ZeroAvia has appointed former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) official Billy Nolen as a Senior Strategy and Regulatory Advisor. In this…
Altair and JetZero have partnered to advance the development of a commercial blended wing aircraft. JetZero aims to reduce fuel…
The Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), part of the Directorate of Defence Research & Development (DDR&D) within the Ministry of…
EDGE and CMN NAVAL have agreed to form a new joint venture, AD NAVAL (ADN), based in Abu Dhabi, to…
Embraer has successfully completed the initial structural fatigue tests of the wing that will be used in its New Technologies…
Israel's ministry of defence has issued a tender for 6,000 first person view (FPV) drones in recognitiion of the Israeli…
Israeli company InfiniDome has developed small, light modules that protect critical systems from GPS jammimg. According to the company its…
The Israeli Airforce (IAF) has developed a system that enables its F-35s to carry JDAM bombs on its wings. Lockheed…
The US State Department is offering up to $15 million for information that could disrupt financial networks supporting the drone-production…
HENSOLDT has entered into a partnership with TUM Venture Labs, an initiative led by the Technical University of Munich and…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2025 GBP all rights reserved.