General Dynamics and U.S. Air Force Enter Agreement To Research Airborne Networking Capabilities
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has entered a three-year cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Air Force Electronic Systems Command (ESC). Under terms of the agreement, General Dynamics will collaborate with the Air Force to research, develop and demonstrate technologies that will help to bring information- and network-driven warfare to airborne military platforms.
“The U.S. Air Force has a clear vision for connecting warfighters in the air to assets in space and on the ground, and General Dynamics has experience in developing mobile ad-hoc networks,” said John Martin, vice president of communication networks at General Dynamics C4 systems. “Working with the Air Force to refine and integrate network-centric capabilities will speed the delivery of critical technologies for the benefit of both the public and private sectors.”
The 36-month CRADA leverages General Dynamics’ experience in building communications network infrastructures and its expertise in ground-layer communications to the new technical challenges of airborne networking. The agreement will help the ESC determine which command, control, communications, computer and information management tools will best meet the requirements of warfighters in future global networks.
General Dynamics will focus on situational awareness, mobile ad hoc networks, wireless, visualization, simulation, network availability and quality-of-service technologies and capabilities. The company’s success in this type of work includes recent demonstrations of terrestrial mobile networking for the Army’s Warfighter Information Network-Tactical program, the Command-Post-of-the-Future (CPoF) visualization and collaboration tool and the Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Tactical Proficiency Trainer (IEWTPT) simulator.
“Partnering with industry is frequently a win-win because they have the knowledge and technology while we have the testing platforms and customers,” said Bruce Hevey, director of 653d Electronic Systems Wing. “Our mission is to acquire, deploy and sustain Air Force and Joint systems to include information, communications and airspace management capabilities to support the Air Force. Working together is the most efficient way to get the right solutions and to leverage industry investment in existing technologies that we can bring to the Air Force.”
Specifically, the agreement will produce risk assessments, technology demonstrations and technology insertion recommendations to advance the state of airborne networking with General Dynamics and the Air Force combining efforts and sharing the results and outcomes.
General Dynamics C4 Systems is a leading integrator of secure communication and information systems and technology. With more than 11,000 employees worldwide, the company specializes in command and control, communications networking, space systems, computing and information assurance for defense, government and select commercial customers in the United States and abroad.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 81,900 people worldwide and had 2005 revenue of $21.2 billion. The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation. More information can be found online at: www.generaldynamics.com.
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Aug 14, 2006
Contact: Chris Snapp
Tel: (508) 880-1636
Email: Chris.Snapp@gdc4s.com
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