US conducts test connecting airborne platforms with naval assets

News, US February 17, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. defense firm Northrop Grumman successfully demonstrated its gateway technology in a flight test connecting airborne platforms with naval assets.

The demonstration was conducted with Naval Air Systems Command, Office of Naval Research, Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, and BAE Systems.

During the demonstration, the Northrop Grumman used its MQ-4C Triton Flying Test Bed equipped with the airborne gateway and shared fifth-generation sensor data to ground-based simulators that represented an F-35, an E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, U.S. Navy Aegis class destroyers and carrier strike groups.

According to the Northrop Grumman statement, “The gateway integrated with Triton’s radar and artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to significantly enhance situational awareness across previously disconnected platforms. The addition of the gateway on Triton expands data sharing and will improve the warfighter’s ability to stay ahead of the adversary and make decisions faster across a vast and diverse environment.”

Vice president and general manager of network information solutions at Northrop Grumman, Ben Davies said, the gateways provide “an open, secure, and resilient solution needed to enable information advantage for our customers.”

Davies added that “This powerful combination expands the mission sets of maritime platforms to deliver a seamlessly connected fleet – a critical step as the U.S. Navy achieves its naval operational architecture to enable distributed maritime operations.”

^{Northrop Grumman integrated the widest variety of sensors to date on the Integrated Fire Control Network for an IBCS test, including one Marine Corps Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar, two Army Sentinel radars, one Army Patriot radar, and two U.S. Air Force F-35 fighter aircraft. (Image Credit: Northrop Grumman)}

Northrop Grumman’s vice president and general manager of global surveillance, Jane Bishop said, “Triton’s altitude, persistence, and robust communication links make it an ideal candidate to host the Gateway system.”

“This demonstration highlighted gateway technology enhancements to Triton that would enable information dominance across distributed maritime assets; including access to the F-35’s robust sensor suite and the E-2D’s battle management capabilities,” Bishop added.

Last year in September, Northrop Grumman also demonstrated a High Capacity Backbone (HCB)-enabled Gateway System solution and provided foundational connectivity and processing capabilities to enable U.S. Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2). The defense firm seeks to enhance interoperability between joint and coalition forces across air and sea.