Competition for NATO's emerging 'Saturn' secure airborne radio and datalink system is intensifying with Honeywell/Rohde & Schwarz and Rockwell Collins unveiling new systems.
To strengthen its bid, Honeywell has teamed with Munich-based electronic communications specialist Rohde & Schwarz to provide a jam-resistant airborne transceiver system designated the M3AR (Series 6000).
Designed to establish two-way ultra-high frequency (UHF) and very high frequency (VHF), AM, FM, speech and high data communications, the system incorporates both Have Quick I/II and Saturn (second generation anti-jam tactical UHF radio for NATO) electronic protective measures (EPMs). The Saturn waveform includes several datalink capabilities, including compatibility with Link 11, Link 22 and 188-220A.
Honeywell says M3AR is a "...multi-mode, multi-band, muti-function airborne radio" aimed at a broad range of military aircraft. The new system is also designed to integrate into existing communications systems using the ARC-164 UHF transceiver - the standard UHF equipment for more than 60 countries.
Rockwell Collins is competing for the Saturn waveform requirements with its Talon V/UHF advanced communications system. The system, which builds on the company's ARC-210 radio line, can apply an electronic counter-measures waveform that easily changes to "..create country-wide waveforms", says Collins.
Talon provides normal and two-way voice and data communications over the 30 - 400MHz frequency ranges, and can implement the single channel ground air radio system (Sincgars) electronic protection waveforms in the low VHF frequency range, and the Have Quick and Have Quick II EPMs in UHF. Collins adds it can "..employ embedded communications security cyptography, UHF satcoms and other secure communications features."
Source: Flight International