DRS Technologies Receives First Certification to Operate Mobile X-Band Communications Terminals over Wideband Global SATCOM

May 15, 2013

DRS Technologies, Inc., has received certification for its mobile X46-V Communications On-the-Move Terminal to operate on U.S. Department of Defense high-capacity communication satellites.  The certification will allow users of these mobile terminals to connect to the U.S. military's Global Information Grid, giving warfighters greater flexibility and global support.

DRS received the first X-Band On-the-Move certification by the Department of Defense's Joint SATCOM Engineering Center and the Army Strategic Command for its mobile X-Band system.  The certification enables access to the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellite constellation, allowing users a direct connection to voice, data and video capabilities for collecting, processing, storing, disseminating and managing information. 

The X46-V is mission ready in a deployable package and has completed MIL-STD-461 and MIL-STD-810 certification.

Utilizing U.S. government wideband communications satellites, DRS's X46-V allows a data transfer rate of up to 6Mbps. The system also operates on Ku and Ka bands, giving users additional flexibility to access both commercial and military satellite constellations.

"Having terminals that are certified for both WGS and commercial satellites maximizes the warfighters' ability to connect to the Global Information Grid," said Logen Thiran , President of DRS's Intelligence, Communication and Avionics Solutions business unit.

"The X46-V is a force enabler providing greater situational awareness and command and control; while reducing organizational and operational support," Thiran said.

Certification of DRS's X46-V Communications On-the-Move Terminal can also assist the military forces of Australia, Canada, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Denmark that also have access to the WGS satellite constellation.