BAE SYSTEMS develops satellite communications to support humanitarian relief operations
05 Nov 2001
BAE Systems has developed a mobile satellite communications capability based upon its highly successful Dagger concept, currently deployed in the military domain, for use in applications such as humanitarian operations, the provision of medical assistance at a distance and to support civil disaster relief.
Designed initially by the Avionics Communications & Defence Infrastructure Division based at Christchurch, United Kingdom, to meet the long-range communications needs of the British Forces in the demanding Balkans environment, Dagger is a modular satellite communications system specifically tailored for rapid deployment and use in operationally challenging domains. It can be fitted to a wide range of civilian vehicle chassis, requires minimal manpower support and is self-sufficient in terms of power generation.
A Dagger-equipped vehicle carries a roof-mounted antenna, baseband switching equipment, communications sub-systems, power generation, phones, data adapters, cables and air conditioning to support its high capacity functions. Configurations can be varied to allow up to 96 telephone or data circuits to be connected through Dagger to world-wide satellite networks. The telephones can typically be distributed around a headquarters or throughout a building.
Dagger can be hosted on a wide range of vehicles which are able to accommodate the necessary internal and roof mounted equipment. With the antenna stowed, the off-road mobility performance of a typical Dagger-equipped four-wheel drive vehicle is impressive ) for instance, exceeding the Land Rover specification for such an installed vehicle.
In its humanitarian operations or civil disaster relief variants, Dagger can be used in any remote area of the world where communications must be established quickly. It can support communities affected by natural disasters where the normal communications, and even the local infrastructure, may have been destroyed by earthquake or flood. Dagger's uniqueness in being able to provide reliable instant communications makes it ideal for use by field representatives of bodies such as international organisations or charitable agencies, where links back to their main headquarters need to be mobile and rapidly established.
Dagger can be used to support medical and surgical operations wherever a remote temporary field hospital is required. With the advent of real time medical data transfer, more complex operations can thereby be facilitated. The use of digital cameras and video conferencing also allows experts on the other side of the world to successfully co-ordinate the actions of those carrying out the medical activities at otherwise inaccessible locations.
As a network hub, Dagger can be used to expand the area covered by communications, allowing the use of GSM mobile phones. This configuration provides a 20-kilometre island of coverage for mobile communications, combined with a long-distance link via satellite communications. Alternatively, a TETRA base station or hub can be used in conjunction with the satellite terminal capability within the Dagger vehicle to achieve similar functionality.
Background note:
The Communications & Defence Infrastructure (CDI) division of BAE Systems Avionics supplies tactical and strategic communications systems for all three domains, together with innovative information infrastructure and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems, to support battlespace digitisation. The division develops defence applications based on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) sub-systems and accepts development risk from customer organisations. CDI's approach features the creation of Integrated Project Teams (IPTs) with procurement specialists and user representatives, and the development of industrial alliances with other major industry centres of specialist expertise in associated fields.
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