US Navy awards $85 million contract for next-generation Network Tactical Common Data Link systems

News, US January 17, 2025 , by IRIA No Comments

3 minute read

The United States Navy awarded BAE Systems an $85 million production contract to deliver additional Network Tactical Common Data Link (NTCDL) systems, enhancing situational awareness and providing a tactical battlefield advantage for the Navy.

Under the contract, the NTCDL systems are being installed on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and will be installed on new Constellation-class frigates. The system will facilitate the real-time exchange of voice, data, imagery, and full-motion video across a range of platforms, including air, surface, subsurface, and portable sources.

According to the BAE Systems, “Mission critical information is an asset to the warfighter and NTCDL’s data sharing capabilities increase communication accessibility, allowing decision makers to adapt to mission needs.”

The latest contract modifies an existing BAE Systems contract to extend the program’s total period of performance by three years. “As the original developer and manufacturer of the NTCDL system, BAE Systems has the engineering and production capabilities to meet the program’s urgent fielding timeline requirements,” the statement added.

Director of Adaptive Communications and Sensing at BAE Systems, Amber Dolan said in a statement, “We have designed and produced a faster next-generation system to meet the demands of our customers’ evolving connectivity mission requirements.”

Dolan further highlighted that “BAE Systems is committed to providing the U.S. Navy with a trusted and secure solution to transmit and receive the critical information needed to successfully accomplish its missions across the fleet.”

^{Network Tactical Common Data Link (NTCDL) system enhances situational awareness and tactical battlefield advantage of the U.S. Navy through real-time and simultaneous networked operations. (Image Credit: BAE Systems)}

The NTCDL enhances data exchange across land, sea, and air platforms, delivering warfighters an integrated tactical network for seamless operations. It ensures the timely exchange of mission-critical information, empowering U.S. Navy operators to simultaneously transmit and receive real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data from multiple sources while exchanging command and control information across distinct or independent networks.

The company designed NTCDL to be modular and scalable, ensuring ease of use and adaptability for future needs. Its open architecture provides operators with the flexibility to accommodate new waveforms and expand link capacity as mission demands evolve. The innovative design also simplifies reprogramming, enabling seamless adaptation to new and emerging mission requirements.

The NTCDL system performs multi-mode acquisition using advanced, rapid electronically-steered phased arrays. It is currently undergoing Type 1 certification with multi-channel NSA modernized cryptographic technology.

The system includes an integrated multi-link control system with resource management and interfaces with a government-developed link management subsystem, providing complete operator control and maintenance capabilities. Additionally, NTCDL is delivered with server, router, and network switch equipment to enable seamless connection to shipboard LANs for C4ISR applications.

Key Features:

Multi-Link Common Data Link (CDL) Surface Terminal: Designed to meet the U.S. Navy’s growing C4ISR needs and high-tempo operational concepts
Scalable, Modular Architecture: Open system design ensures fleet-wide deployment across a variety of ship classes.
Software-Defined Radios: Programmable CDL radios provide adaptability and advanced functionality.
Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Network Switch Fabric: Enables flexible antenna switching, enhancing radio frequency (RF) link performance.