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Miniature Secure SATCOM Transceiver

Project Status: Current

Description:

This Title III project is establishing a domestic manufacturing capability for Satellite Communication (SATCOM) transceivers. A SATCOM transceiver is a credit card sized software-definable unit used to locate and recover isolated US and Allied/Coalition personnel from harm’s way.

Current production of SATCOM transceivers is limited to a highly manual, non-automated process with low yield, high unit costs, and low device reliability. This project shall introduce the necessary manufacturing technology, production processes, and automated production systems to expand the US industrial base production capacity and to ultimately provide warfighters with greatly improved and more secure personnel recovery capabilities.

PA# 88ABW-2011-1990

SATCOM Transceiver Concept

Applications and Benefits

The primary application of the SATCOM transceiver is location and recovery of dismounted, isolated personnel in harm’s way. The technology will also provide voice and data streams, enhanced situational awareness, improved command, control, communications, & computer capabilities. The SATCOM transceiver is a key enabler of the DoD’s next generation Global Personnel Recovery System. The GPRS SATCOM transceiver provides true global coverage and is not limited to the UHF frequency band.

The SATCOM transceiver’s software defined radio format does not limit the number of satellite architectures available for use. It is programmable with different waveforms that can be used with various satellite providers and has been proactively designed to avoid export control issues, thus enabling Allied/Coalition interoperability. It uses cryptography based on a design certified Secret for data and Top Secret for voice by the National Security Agency.

Activities and Accomplishments

- Completed pilot production runs in May 2012.

- Achieved a Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) of 8.