The US Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) has announced plans to begin deploying the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) during the third quarter of this year.

MUOS is a narrowband satellite communication system that uses commercial mobile phone technology to offer the marines increased voice and data communication capabilities on the battlefield.

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The US Marine Corps (USMC) will be the first service to use the MUOS solution and has previously deployed thousands of MUOS-capable AN/PRC-117G radios over the past six years.

The upgrade of the firmware within the radios will be carried out in order to support the MUOS waveform.

"With MUOS, we’re meeting the data exchange requirements of today’s force with equipment that is organic to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force."

It will also add three new antenna kits to facilitate multiple operational configurations.

MCSC Command Element Systems MUOS project officer captain Shawn Avery said: “MUOS provides several advantages over legacy SATCOM.

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“The most obvious to the operating forces will be the increased accessibility.

“This will allow us to explore new operating concepts by pushing on-the-move voice and data connectivity to the squad level.”

The system has been designed to support users who require mobility, higher data rates and enhanced operational availability.

MUOS is equipped with advanced technology and is capable of providing a secure and reliable beyond line-of-sight communication capability.

The USMC currently intends to add the MUOS waveform to its AN/PRC-117G units and future multi-channel radios within the Marine Corps inventory.

The system comprises a space-based segment, a ground-based segment connected over fibre-optic cables between multiple continents, and a software-defined radio terminal that is capable of running the MUOS waveform.

Avery added: “With MUOS, we’re meeting the data exchange requirements of today’s force with equipment that is organic to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force.”

The initial operational capability of the MUOS solution is scheduled for the first quarter of 2019.

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