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| MUOS TRAF antenna. Photo: Lockheed Martin |
[Avionics Today 12-15-2014] With the United States Navy’s Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) expected to achieve global communications coverage next year, Lockheed Martin recently established a new radio terminal development and certification facility to help put MUOS’ new capabilities into warfighters’ hands faster.
Developed by Lockheed Martin, MUOS operates like a satellite-based, smartphone cell network, aiming to improve current secure mobile, tactical communications for warfighters on the move. Once MUOS is fully operational, secure terminal users, connected through the system’s Internet protocol-based technology, will be able to transmit and receive clear voice calls and data from almost anywhere in the world.
To assist other industry providers in testing, developing and certifying MUOS radio terminals and government applications more quickly, Lockheed Martin opened the $6.5 million Test Radio Access Facility (TRAF). More than 55,000 currently fielded terminals can be upgraded to the MUOS wideband code division multiple-access waveform.
“Lockheed Martin’s goal with the TRAF is to help terminal developers and application integrators get MUOS’ capabilities deployed to the warfighter as quickly as possible,” said Glenn Ladue, MUOS TRAF manager. “Providing a high fidelity, end-to-end test environment during development will dramatically shorten the time it takes to get from a good idea to operational utility.”