Satellite Technology Feature Article
November 14, 2008
DataPath Deploys Satellite COTM Solution for U.S. Army in Iraq
By Anuradha Shukla, TMCnet Contributor
DataPath will reportedly manufacture and deploy a satellite communications on-the-move (COTM) solution for U.S. Army forces in Iraq. Initially the company will deliver a SATCOM hub earth terminal and two satellite COTM systems that will be installed on U.S. Army Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.
DataPath (News - Alert) reportedly received this contract by Program Manager WIN-T’s Commercial SATCOM Terminal Program (CSTP) at the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, through the CSTP Blanket Purchase Agreement contract.
The company expects that the contract will fetch up to $3.9 million, including the initial COTM systems, the hub earth terminal and options for additional systems. For this project, the company is delivering their DataPath COTM solution for the U.S. Army that features a low-profile antenna enabling satellite communications (SATCOM) connectivity at vehicle speeds of 80 miles per hour or more.
DataPath has also been contracted to provide its compact MobiLink system for testing as an integral part of the COTM solution. Mounted on a SINCGARS MT-6352 tray, MobiLink links land mobile radio (LMR) and satellite COTM and allows users to gain cross-band capability through its simple, push-to-talk interface. With this capability users can seamlessly use both the SATCOM and LMR links.
Acting as communications hubs, COTM-enabled MRAP vehicles with MobiLink will provide an everything-over-IP (EoIP) network link that establishes a robust line-of-sight (LOS) and beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) network anywhere. On the battlefield, this communications hub will allow users and vehicles to leverage the BLOS connectivity to establish mobile, high- bandwidth capability to send and receive video, data and voice communications.
Steve Lindeman, vice president of Business Operations at DataPath, pointed out that COTM plays a key role in further moving out the high-bandwidth network edge for providing greater situational awareness, speed and flexibility to small, quickly moving units of warfighters.
By closely collaborating with the U.S. military, DataPath has enabled this capability with cost-effective, practical solutions that leverage the latest technology innovations. The DataPath MobiLink solution will be tested in-theater with this initiative to demonstrate the benefits of an integrated, on-the-move SATCOM and LMR network, said Lindeman.
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Anuradha Shukla is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Anuradha’s article, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Michelle Robart
