Inside Track
General Dynamics Completes Initial Delivery of WIN-T Gear General Dynamics C4 Systems recently completed delivery of the first WIN-T Increment 1 equipment to the U.S. Army. Increment 1 builds on the former Joint Network Node-Network (JNN) and provides soldiers with a high-capacity, reliable, secure communications network when they are stopped or “at the halt.” On schedule deliveries of WIN-T Increment 1 to the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) (Figure 1) at Ft. Lewis, Wash. includes networking hubs, network management suites and network nodes. The equipment serves Battalion, Brigade and Division/Corps command posts and Expeditionary Signal Battalions. The 5/2 ID SBCT is training with the new WIN-T Increment 1 equipment in preparation for operational tests and evaluations. General Dynamics is also under contract for WINT Increment 2, which will provide soldiers with an initial on-the-move broadband networking capability using satellite and radio links. Fielding begins in 2009. In addition, General Dynamics is developing the components to meet the full range of network capacity, security, and fully on-the-move capabilities under the WIN-T Increment 3 contract as the Army’s transitions to modular equipment for its future fighting force. Limited user testing of Increment 3 be[ 8 ] COTS Journal December 2008
Figure 3
The Stryker ICV is shown here offloading from a C-130 transport aircraft. The WIN-T Increment 1 gear delivered to the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division Stryker BCT at Ft. Lewis, WA includes networking hubs, network management suites and network nodes. gins in 2011. The award for WIN-T Increment 4, which represents the last of the developmental program elements, is pending. General Dynamics C4 Systems Scottsdale, AZ. (480) 441-3033. [www.gdc4s.com].
Navy Taps Concurrent’s Real-Time Linux Systems for Aircrew Virtual Trainer Naval Air Systems (NAS) Command has awarded Binghamton Simulator Company (BSC) a contract for the Aircrew Virtual Environment Trainer (AVET) program. BSC is building the Navy’s first AVET unit using Concurrent’s iHawk realtime multiprocessor systems powered by RedHawk Linux as the simulation host computer. The AVET program will provide safer and more cost-effective training for Navy airmen. BSC delivered a prototype AVET to the Fleet Re-
placement Squadron 2 (FRS 2) at NAS Norfolk in September 2008 for a 90-day evaluation. Concurrent’s iHawk system is serving as the simulator host. The prototype unit is a virtual environment trainer that demonstrates the technology BSC developed under a recent Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award from the Navy. The fully functional AVET is scheduled to be delivered to Naval Air Station North Island in September 2009, and will be the first of several projected units to support U. S. Navy aircrew readiness training. Concurrent is providing BSC with integrated iHawk platforms running the RedHawk Linux real-time operating system, as well as Concurrent NightStar advanced debugging and analysis tools and MAXAda 95 language system. Concurrent Pompano Beach, FL. (954) 974-1700. [www.ccur.com].
Lockheed Martin’s F-35 ALIS Will Include NGRAIN Software Lockheed Martin has released the NGRAIN-developed Visual Damage and Repair Tracking software to be deployed with the F-35 Lightning II Autonomic Logistics Information Systems (ALIS) software suite. ALIS provides a suite of software to support maintenance, supply and training operations for F-35 Lightning II (JSF) aircraft technicians worldwide. The software will be delivered to test sites with F-35 aircraft (Figure 4) in 2009.
The NGRAIN software, selected by Lockheed Martin in February this year, will be used by aircraft maintainers on the flight line to document aircraft exterior damage inspection findings and aircraft exterior repairs. The software will be delivered on portable, ruggedized Panasonic Toughbook computers. F-35 maintainers will use NGRAIN’s intuitive 3-D visualization software to streamline and support accurate capture of aircraft exterior damage and repair details. Streamlining workflow, NGRAIN’s Visual
Figure 4
The F-35 Lightening II turns during the 16th test flight in late April 2007. The F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, 5thgeneration stealth fighter. The JSF program is the largest defense acquisition program to date with a total projected value of more than $276 billion. Damage and Repair Tracking software enables F-35 maintainers to accurately capture, store and track aircraft exterior damage and repair details by drawing directly onto a 3-D model of the aircraft. NGRAIN Vancouver, BC Canada (604) 669-9973. [www.ngrain.com].