US Navy radios get upgrade

General Dynamics Mission Systems has been awarded a contract modification by the US Navy to improve HF communications for the Navy’s four-channel, AN/USC-61(C) Digital Modular Radios (DMR).

The 3G HF third-generation Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) increases transmission rates from radio to radio by 24% and reduces static and other noises that hinder voice communications quality.

It also improves communications among US and coalition forces and can supplement satellite communications (SATCOM) when SATCOM networks are overloaded or unavailable.

“This improved HF capability gives sailors and their commanders a communications advantage with improved communications reliability and higher data capacity, particularly when beyond-line-of-sight networks are unavailable,” said Paul Parent, a vice president of General Dynamics Mission Systems.

“DMR also provides a more effective alternative to satellite communications in locations where satellite connectivity or capacity is limited or unavailable.”

The General Dynamics’ software-defined DMR radios are the Navy’s mission-critical communications hub for Navy vessels and submarines. They provide a wide spectrum of military voice and data communication channels including UHF satellite networks, VHF and line-of-sight radios, Single-Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems (SINCGARS) and other tactical radios.

The radios are also equipped with General Dynamics Advanced Infosec Machine (AIM) encryption chip, certified by US National Security Agency to carry classified information at the Type 1 – Top Secret level and below. The radios also communicate simultaneously at multiple levels of security, on each of the radios’ four channels.

The MUOS waveform was recently added to DMR to significantly enhance the Navy’s beyond-line-of-site voice and data communications by connecting to the new Mobile User Objective System satellite communications network.