Army combat radios to get network channel

Two defense contractors will work to develop a more interoperable radio system by connecting the high-band width Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW) with the existing Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINGCARS), reports Defense News.

ITT Corp. and General Dynamics C4 plan to create a second channel by adding a technology to SINGCARS radios called Software Compliant Architecture conforming Small Form Fit-SideHat.

SRW—an integral part of the Army’s Future Combat Systems program—moves voice, data, video and images across a network that includes vehicles, small sensors, robots, and UAVs.

“You need line of sight with SINGCARS,” said Tom Keen, ITT Communications Systems business development. “But with SideHat there can be an ad-hoc network.”