As the systems integrator for the Collaborative Airborne Network (CAN) demonstration, Northrop Grumman equipped a Cessna aircraft with fielded narrowband and broadband military communications and sensors. The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Advanced Information Management System (AIMS) was used to create an ad-hoc information network between fixed and mobile ground units.

The demonstration illustrated the ability of ground forces to exchange information and collaborate beyond distances provided by normal line of sight communications

The Highband Networking Radio (HNR), a collaborative radio system developed between Harris Corporation and BAE Systems, was used to implement the self-forming, self-healing, mesh network using the Highband Networking Waveform (HNW). The network featured air, ground mobile and fixed nodes successfully demonstrating the waveform's suitability for airborne backbone networks. The HNR is being used as the baseline line of sight (LOS) link in the Army's Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T).

"Our demonstration showed that we can let ground forces exchange information and collaborate at distances beyond what they normally can via existing line of sight communications systems," said Dr. Dale Burton, chief technology officer for Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector.

"It also highlighted Northrop Grumman's ability to successfully integrate the Army's new WIN-T radio platform, the HNR built by Harris and BAE Systems, as the wideband backbone for the deployable network with current Army communications systems."

"This demo proves that true, ad-hoc networking for mobile ground networks can incorporate airborne nodes to extend the range of the network," said Wes Covell, president of Harris Defense Programs. "HNR provides a unique high throughput, mesh network backbone that can be used to provide interoperability among both ground and airborne operations."

Within the operational demonstration, participants exchanged friendly force positions, streaming video, Voice-Over-Internet Protocol, air and ground tracks, moving target indicator, and text chat. To ensure reliable data delivery, data protection technology from Digital Fountain was used to counter the effects of network failures caused by loss of connectivity or radio frequency interference.

AFRL's AIMS demonstrated the ability to manage operational information using a service-oriented architecture, allowing operators to publish, subscribe and query for data in real-time. This capability allowed users to access information previously unavailable to them due to operational constraints.

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