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individual combat role, radio Harris is offering the RF-7800S-TR
UHF set, a secure personal team radio. The radio operates over
a distance of 1-2 km in open terrain, 500-800 meters in urban
area and about half a kilometer in dense jungle. It runs on
eight alkaline or rechargeable batteries supporting eight hours
of continuous use. It carries full duplex digital voice and
data communications, using an independent wireless network that
does not require infrastructure or backbone support. The system
supports 14 programmable preset networks, each supporting 'talk
groups' - full duplex voice conferences allowing several speakers
to talk simultaneously on the network while to an unlimited
number of listeners. This results in a natural, dynamic communications
exchange unrestricted by traditional limitations of half-duplex
radio. The network uses priority based functions providing leaders
the ability to break-in, ensuring critical orders are received
even when the network is active. The data enabled radio has
a built-in SPS GPS receiver, enabling automatic position tracking
and messaging services. It connect to standard computing devices,
such as digital cameras, PDAs and laptops via standard USB.
Communication security is supported by built-in Harris Citadel
II hardware or Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption.
ITT is offering the Spearnet team member
radio operating in the 1.2 GHz, 2.4 GHz or 4.9 GHz frequency
bands. The radio has an integrated AES COMSEC encryption module.
Spearnet communicates uses Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum for
optimal operation in an urban environment, supporting a maximum
6 Mbps burst rate or 1.5 Mbps in sustained transmissions. Rates
are reduced through longer communications lasting over several
frequency hops, for example, five hops will reduce he data rate
to 500 kbps. The Spearnet uses a self-organizing, self-healing,
ad-hoc network carrying secure voice, data and video communications.
For data communications the radio supports a tactical LAN on
the move that does not require a server to exchange messaging.
Each radio has an embedded GPS, and Linux operating system for
radio hosted applications.
Rockwell Collins' Flexnet waveform running on software defined
radios developed by Rockwell Collins and Thales provide high
data rate ad-hoc networking waveform, developed to support mobile
networking requirements of the modern mobile force. The system
is designed to establish secure, ad-hoc networking automatically
connecting up to 150 nodes, carrying data rates up to 6 Mbps.
The network runs optimized Quality of Service (QOS) managing
network topology, link quality, allocate bandwidth and routing
to optimize packet delivery between stationary and mobile nodes.
Remote Radio Controllers & Headset
Several companies displayed hearing protection devices, some
integrated into the headset gear. Two competitors, the Norwegian
company NACRE and US based Silynx introduced two parallel products
which even have similar names – QuietPro
and  QuietOps,
both offering a combination of headset, advanced hearing protection
Voice Activation radio Transmission (VOX) and programmable control
for tactical radio sets. QuietPro, introduced by NACRE is the
more established system, that has already been integrated with
the Marine Corps' personnel radio communicators and Special
Operations' PRC-148 MBITR
radio systems and the German Bundeswehr iDZ
soldier modernization program. The QuietOps from Silynx
was introduced later, and therefore was developed with more
flexible programmability with radio systems. The system is used
with the Israeli Integrated
Advanced Soldier (IAS) program and is also offered worldwide.
According to NACRE, over 24,000 units have already been ordered.
The system uses a digital signal processor to facilitate automatic,
adaptive digital hearing protection by passive and active noise
reduction. Using both passive and active means, QuietPro's can
achieve 34-42 dB attenuation (depending in frequency). By attenuating
ambient noises and canceling excessive acoustic peaks and impulses,
resulting from nearby running engine, explosions and gun shots,
QuietPro helps protecting the soldier's hearing. An in-ear microphone
and loudspeaker support simultaneous operation on two radio
networks while an adaptive, digital talk-through and directional
hearing facilitates a 'bionic ear', capable of localizing sounds
and maximizing hearing sensitivity at specific directions.
 Besides
using their radios, today's soldiers are required to operate
a number of electronic devices – each with its own functionality
and controls all that, without taking hands off the weapon and
eyes off the performing task. Thales Australia is developing
a rifle input control (RIC) interface, that can be adaptable
to various rifles and devices, enabling warfighters to easily
control weapon or helmet mounted systems with intuitive commands.
The system is based on a patented system invented by Kord Defence.
The weapon mounted pushbutton controller provides fast, one-hand
and 'eyes free' access control of a range of devices directly
from the weapon. RIC's three- or five-button controller can
be used to generate 'chordic' combinations that could comfortably
execute eight different commands such as activating a rangefinder,
changing a sight or thermal imager's field of view , sending
a picture or 'clicking' a radio by momentarily pressing the
'transmit' push to talk button. The device is attaches to the
front of the rifle and can be operated by left or right handed
users.
Topics covered in this review:
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