EMS Technologies, Inc. announced today that its Space & Technology Group has received a contract from L-3 Communications West to develop a beam-switching network in support of a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program to demonstrate an advanced datalink on the U.S. Air Force’s Predator unmanned air vehicle.
L-3’s Tactical Common Datalink (TCDL), an advanced datalink system, will incorporate an EMS beam-switching network and is scheduled to be installed and flight tested on a Predator UAV in late summer of 2003.
The EMS switch network allows the aircraft’s datalink signals to be passed along an accurately steered beam with no moving antenna parts, or mechanical positioners as with steered reflectors, but at significantly lower cost, weight and size than a phased array antenna.
“EMS is pleased to be a contributor on this important program with L-3 Communications West, which calls on our proven ability to quickly develop and demonstrate a solution that will bring together the data bandwidth of L-3’s TCDL system with the utility of the Predator vehicle,” said Todd Vaughn, director of the Ferrite Components Group at EMS.
“Our approach uses passive, low-loss switch technology that we have demonstrated for several applications, including military satellite beam-forming systems and advanced intraflight datalinks for tactical fighter aircraft.”
