ROCKWELL International has been awarded a $13 million contract to begin developing a survival radio for US military aviators. The firm beat Motorola and Magnavox for the US Air Force award to develop the Combat Survivor Evader Locator (CSEL). The new survival radio will replace the aging PRC-112 radio. The Pentagon plans to buy 11,000 units for use by the US Air Force, Navy and Army. Initial CSELs will be deployed within two years.
The CSEL will allow rescuers to pinpoint the location of, and establish communications with, aviators downed behind enemy lines.
Rockwell has also received $26 million from the US Army to build single channel anti-jam man-portable terminals. The lightweight, battery-powered satellite-communications ground terminal provides secure voice and data communications using Lockheed Martin Milstar spacecraft.
Source: Flight International