Rockwell Collins made history recently when its ARC-210 advanced networking airborne V/UHF radio received a Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite signal during tests conducted at its Poway, Calif., facility.

“The addition of MUOS functionality into the ARC-210 will bring a tenfold increase in SATCOM data throughput over today’s system,” said Mike Jones, vice president and general manager of Communication and Navigation Products for Rockwell Collins. “As a result, the warfighter will have access to more immediate and comprehensive information, which ultimately means greater opportunity for mission success.”

MUOS is a narrowband Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) system that supports a worldwide, multiservice population of mobile and fixed-site terminal users in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band. Designated as a replacement for legacy SATCOM systems, it provides increased communications capabilities, establishes a new Quality of Service performance level for satellite communications and provides greater overall capacity while still supporting legacy UHF SATCOM terminals and services.

During the recent Rockwell Collins tests, which were shown to government representatives, the ARC-210 underwent a series of tests, culminating with receiving and displaying MUOS satellite Pilot Channel Information from the MUOS-1 Satellite and the successful completion of the MUOS Cell Search function. This testing, along with previously demonstrated completion of all MUOS call types, signaled the completion of all requirements for entry into the government MUOS integration labs in preparation for over-the-air operation.

The ARC-210 radio currently contains both Demand Assigned Multiple Access (DAMA) and Integrated Waveform (IW) satellite communications capabilities. With the implementation of the MUOS waveform, the ARC-210 radio will provide all Department of Defense UHF SATCOM capabilities.

With more than 35,000 fielded units, the ARC-210 is the most widely used airborne radio in the Department of Defense, and continues to provide the warfighter with the latest communications capabilities. The MUOS capability is planned for production in 2015 as either a new radio for customers desiring that option, or as an upgrade to customers’ capable fielded units.

Rockwell Collins press release