Northrop Grumman showcases new in-flight connectivity for LRCC

The latest flight test was the first integration of a new army transceiver and multi-level security data switches.

Northrop Grumman showcases new in-flight connectivity for LRCC
During the event, the aircraft established a link and performed a simulated ISR mission. Credit: Northrop Grumman Corporation.
Northrop Grumman has flight demonstrated new in-flight connectivity through an open architecture network for long-range command and control (LRCC) in contested airspace.

This is the first time a new mission-specific transceiver and multi-level security data switches were integrated into open architecture wide-area networking. It also saw the use of commercial technology.

During the flight test, the Scaled Composites Proteus established a link with Firebird uncrewed air vehicle (UAV) via an advanced line-of-sight data link.

Scaled Composites Proteus is a high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) research aircraft. Firebird can also be flown manned.

The aircraft carried out a simulated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) mission.

It then used a new prototype multi-level security switch to connect back to a Cloud-based fifth-generation (5G) network testbed.

The data link used for the demonstration featured low intercept probability/low detection probability characteristics such as anti-jam properties.

The company considers this experiment as a key milestone in the distributed multi-domain battle management command and control architecture evolution.