ARC-210 airborne software defined radio

Rockwell Collins and Lockheed Martin have successfully conducted two-phase airborne testing of the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) and wideband code divisional multiple access (WCDMA) waveform using the new generation ARC-210 airborne software defined radio.

During the first phase of the testing, the MUOS parametres were monitored and data was collected for the Lockheed Martin engineering team through a series of ground tests.

For airborne testing, the ARC-210 was integrated into an L-100 Hercules aircraft (commercial variant of a C-130) to cover signal acquisition during various flight profiles at speeds of up to 300k.

Lockheed Martin Military Space Advanced Programs director Paul Scearce said the joint testing provided important system operation data to Lockheed Martin.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

"The ARC-210 provided consistent, fast processing and locking on to the MUOS channel," Scearce said.

With successful demonstration of repeatable MUOS signal acquisition, the ARC-210 had marked the first airborne qualified radio to carry out MUOS testing in a live flight environment.

"MUOS WCDMA will provide an excess of 16 times improvement over legacy waveforms," Scearce continued.

"Along with a modern all-IP dynamic network, MUOS will enable tremendous communications-on-the-move flexibility for the warfighter."

"Along with a modern all-IP dynamic network, MUOS will enable tremendous communications-on-the-move flexibility for the warfighter."

The ARC-210 radio, which features both demand assigned multiple access (DAMA) and integrated waveform (IW) satellite communications capabilities, will provide all UHF SATCOM capabilities for the US Department of Defense (DoD) with the implementation of the MUOS WCDMA waveform.

Rockwell Collins communication and navigation products vice-president and general manager, Mike Jones, said: "They trusted us to provide a terminal capable of supporting their requirements and the ARC-210 delivered. We look forward to continuing to work together on MUOS."

The MUOS is a narrowband military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) system designed to support a worldwide, multiservice population of mobile and fixed-site terminal users in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band.


Image: Rockwell Collins’s ARC-210 airborne software defined radio. Photo: courtesy of Rockwell Collins.

Defence Technology