BAE Systems has won a $120m contract from the US Air Force to equip up to 400 ground vehicles with voice and data communications systems.
Under the contract, which has a maximum potential value of $233m, BAE Systems will design, produce, and install the TACP-M’s Vehicular Communications System (VCS).
The VCS will provide mobile voice and data communications for air control throughout the battle space.
The programme is a component of the Air Force’s Tactical Air Control Party Modernization (TACP-M) programme. TACPs advise ground commanders and staff on aerospace power capabilities and assist in planning close-air-support operations using vehicle-mounted communications systems, man-pack radios, and digital communications devices.
Use of different communications systems by ground-force units and among a variety of aircraft and command and control nodes requires that the VCS support multiple waveforms and data protocols.