Airbus upgrades communication network at Fort Irwin in the USA

Elancourt, 7 August 2018 – Airbus is upgrading and expanding the US Army’s secure mobile communication system at the Fort Irwin National Training Center in the USA, California.

As a result of this migration, the US Army will be able to communicate more efficiently and flexibly on one of the most important training site of the US military. A resilient and highly reliable on-site communication infrastructure supports the work of observers and controllers. Airbus expects the conclusion of the network modernisation by the end of 2018.

“We are proud to serve the US Army who required communication technology of the highest standards,” says Thierry Becker, Head of Sales of Western Europe, North America and Africa for Secure Land Communications at Airbus. “Since 2001, the army has been using our Tetrapol system, and now they want to bring it to the next level to challenge their future tasks”

Airbus is upgrading the base’s simulcast voice network, consisting of 48 channels, as well as its extensions to China Lake NAWS Airport and Barstow Daggett Airport. The new IP technology facilitates the integration of IT-based network elements and the interoperability with 4G/5G broadband technology. It sets the ground for multimedia communication and real-time data transmission. The renewed Tetrapol network also offers a high capacity and carries out calls and data transmission very swiftly.

Trainings at Fort Irwin encompass many aspects that require precise mobile communication instruments: multinational army units and members of various governmental agencies simulate and train complex situations on ground. The army works with drones, multimedia communication and real-time data transmission. On the site, complete villages were built with video recording tools to analyse combat situations than can engage an entire brigade combat team in a fight.

Tetrapol technology is ideal for use on large sites, such as the 2,580 square kilometre (996 square miles) large Training Center in the Mojave Desert in the state of California. Each day, 150,000 group calls are handled by the Tetrapol communication system at Fort Irwin. Despite the extreme weather conditions of the Mojave Desert, the system has demonstrated the expected availability and reliability.

Airbus

Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2017 it generated revenues of € 67 billion and employed a workforce of around 129,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners from 100 to more than 600 seats. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world’s leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.

Secure Land Communications (www.securelandcommunications.com)

Secure Land Communications (SLC), an Airbus business unit, offers advanced communication and collaboration solutions to gather, process and deploy intelligence. Its portfolio is tailored to the needs of Public Safety, Defence and Transport, Utility and Industry (TUI). It includes infrastructures, devices, applications and services based on Tetra, Tetrapol and Broadband technologies (either single, hybrid or multi-technology solutions). As the European leader and a key international player, SLC has customers in more than 80 countries and employs around 1,150 people in 17 countries.

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