Lockheed Martin has delivered the first secure, Joint Tactical Radio to the U.S. Army's AH-64D Apache Avionics Integration Lab. The Airborne, Maritime/Fixed Station Joint Tactical Radio System (AMF JTRS) delivery included the Engineering Development Model (EDM) of the Joint Tactical Radio-Small Airborne two channel radio running the Link-16 waveform and 200w Link-16 power amplifier. The radio was delivered June 27, 2011 to Boeing's Apache facility in Mesa, Arizona.
AMF JTRS is designed to allow Airmen, Sailors, Marines and Soldiers to seamlessly share secure (NSA Type 1) voice, data, and video communications, in real-time.
"This delivery represents a significant step in building the DoD communication network and dramatically enhances the situational awareness that tactical warfighters will have in the cockpit," said Colonel Raymond Jones, Assistant Joint Program Executive Officer (AJPEO) JTRS.
Once completely fielded, AMF JTRS will link more than 100 platforms, providing connectivity to areas where no communications infrastructure previously existed. Airmen and Sailors will be able to synchronize with the Soldiers in the foxhole, providing near instantaneous awareness of the combat environment.
"This milestone is testament to the maturity of the AMF JTRS networking system," said Mark Norris, Vice President for Joint Tactical Network Solutions with Lockheed Martin's IS&GS-Defense. "AMF JTRS will provide net-enabled communications that are secure, move more information faster, are easy to use and maintain, and interoperate with new Joint Tactical Radio systems as well as older legacy radios."
The delivery of this radio - which incorporates control software and essential Link 16 functions - allows the Apache integration team to begin integrating the Joint Tactical Radio command and control functions onto their platform architecture. The Apache Avionics Integration Lab will use the EDM unit for software integration and testing for incorporation into the AH-64D Block III upgrade.
"With the planned integration of the AMF JTRS into the AH-64D Apache Block III helicopter, we recognize the value in adding new technologies and keeping Apache ready and relevant for decades to come," said David Koopersmith, Boeing Vice President, Attack Helicopter programs.
Lockheed Martin's AMF JTRS team includes BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.
Source: Lockheed Martin
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