In strategic partnership with Raytheon, an American manufacturer of amateur radio equipment FlexRadio®was selected by the US Air Force to adapt the finished product SmartSDR/ FLEX-6000 architecture for HF modernization of on-board communication platforms. The new radio will provide communications for air crews beyond the line of sight over long distances.
“We are excited to announce that our proven modular direct sampling hardware, Open Waveform API and IP-based architecture provide a ready-made platform for flexible development to meet the communication needs of the 21st century,” said Gerald Youngblood. K5SDR, CEO of FlexRadio. “Throughout the history of FlexRadio, commercial amateur products have been used in defense products, which in turn have been used back in commercial products. We are sure that these efforts will return. “
Youngblood said the deal could boost amateur radio and commercial products and services. “Although I cannot go into all the details, the positive impact on our business processes, infrastructure, intellectual property and human resources will improve our amateur / commercial products and services,” he said. “So, more announcements for amateur products are coming soon.”
Raytheon received a $ 36 million Project Agreement through Another Transaction Agreement (OTA) with the Consortium Management Group (CMG) on behalf of the Cyberspace Command, Control and Communications Consortium, in support of the requirements of the Center for Life Management cycle of the US Air Force, to the development and qualification of RF radio. CMG the mission “is to accelerate the development of technology to enhance the capabilities of the U.S. government needed to maintain American military superiority in information technology on weapons systems.”
Barbara Borgonovi, vice president of Integrated Communication Systems, said: “Raytheon’s partnership with FlexRadio combines commercial innovation with advanced military reinforcement techniques to quickly deliver next-generation operational capability that supports strategic and tactical missions.”
The Raytheon-FlexRadio team is one of the two recipients of this development program. After the 31-month implementation period, a team will be assigned to move on to production.
“High-frequency communications worldwide are what our commercial customers do every day, using virtually every way of working and kind of distribution,” said Youngblood. “Our partnership combines Raytheon’s vast resources and experience in airborne tactical communications systems with FlexRadio’s commercial, ready-to-use high-frequency software radios to deliver a modular, extensible and flexible communications platform for fighters.”