A Northrop Grumman-led industry team with Lockheed Martin and L-3 Communications has tested a unique application of the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for high-bandwidth communications. Northrop officials say that the technology breakthrough demonstrated with the F-22 fighter’s AN/APG-77 radar aperture and a common data link modem emulator mean Northrop’s AESA and L-3’s CDL modem can transmit both communication and imagery data at two to four times the standard modem speed. They say the capability directly supports emerging non-traditional ISR efforts, especially efforts to have the F-22 and F-35 transmit and receive large, uncompressed data packages and images within seconds.
The Department of the Air Force has identified 50 programs that will make up the core of its contribution to the Pentagon’s joint all-domain command and control effort, branding them part of the “DAF Battle Network,” according to newly-released budget documents. The DAF Battle Network programs span multiple offices and agencies…