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| Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) Map [click to enlarge] |
by Argie Sarantinos-Perrin for AFNS News
Even with today's advanced military networked communications systems, the simple ability to make voice calls or track logistics forces while operating in the vast Pacific Theater is challenging.
Recently, Soldiers onboard an Army Logistics Supply Vessel (LSV) in Hawaii took a leap forward when they used equipment that enabled seamless communication with land units 200 miles away - enabling the transfer of data, images and clear voice communications.
Working in collaboration, the Army and Navy demonstrated, Feb. 18, at Fort Shafter, how an integrated suite of network technology can effectively provide communications for Joint users throughout the Pacific Theater. Using the Army's Manpack Radios and friendly-force tracker Joint Battle Command-Platform (JBC-P), with the Navy's Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) waveform, Soldiers in five geographically disperse locations - on land and at sea - were able to talk, text, share data and track the ship's progress.
"As the Army focuses more on the Pacific Theater, it is critical for Soldiers in that region to be able to communicate back to land when they are traveling thousands of miles at sea," said Col. James P. Ross, the Army's project manager for Tactical Radios. "The Manpack Radio and MUOS waveform, along with JBC-P, enable Soldiers to not only share enroute mission command information, but to also know where friendly and enemy forces are located."
Similar to 3-G cellular service, the MUOS waveform keeps users - on ships, in submarines, aircraft and vehicles and while dismounted and on the move - connected to high-quality voice and mission data. With 10 times more capacity than the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) system that it is replacing, the MUOS system provides additional bandwidth, eliminating connectivity and data sharing problems. With additional bandwidth, U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) units that deploy to Southeast Asia where there is limited bandwidth can stay connected and exchange voice and data.
Read the full story at SpaceDaily