Tactical communications

BAE Systems to Produce Seven NTCDL Systems for US Navy

BAE Systems has won a $42.7 million contract from the U.S. Navy to produce seven Network Tactical Common Data Link systems, modular and scalable platforms meant to facilitate the exchange of real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data as well as command and control information on aircraft carriers and Constellation-class frigates to boost situational awareness. The platforms work to transmit voice, data, imagery and video from air, surface, subsurface and man-portable sources, BAE said.

Alan Dewar, BAE’s director of integrated communications solutions, said the multiple, simultaneous common data links enabled by NTCDL allow the faster delivery of higher volumes of tactical communications.

As part of the first phase of the NTCDL program, Ball Corp. was tasked in 2018 to supply specialized antennas to BAE, the prime contractor on the eight-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity deal.

BAE is conducting related work across military departments, including a $137 million contract in January to manage and sustain the Navy’s command, control, computers, communications, cyber and ISR capabilities by providing hardware and personnel training, among other services.

In March, the Air Force awarded BAE a $176 million contract to provide its aircraft with scalable, modular and jam-resistant software-defined radios intended to serve as a secure alternative to satellite communications.