Ground communications specialist Marines use the Networking On-the-Move-Airborne Increment II System on an MV-22 Osprey during a flight at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. This month, Marine Corps Systems Command fielded the first NOTM-A Inc. II System to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to enhance their ability to communicate in the air. (U.S. Marine Corps photo courtesy of Chris Wagner)
By Matthew Beinart |
@mbeinart22
6 years ago |
06/29/2018

The Marine Corps is beginning to field its Networking on the Move (NOTM) communication system on its MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft as it looks to expand access to its tactical network in the air, officials said on Thursday.

The NOTM-Airborne Increment II, which gives up to five users full access to the tactical communication applications, is in testing with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary unit this month and will eventually be fielded to Marine Expeditionary Force I and II in 2019.

Ground communications specialist Marines use the Networking On-the-Move-Airborne Increment II System on an MV-22 Osprey during a flight at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. This month, Marine Corps Systems Command fielded the first NOTM-A Inc. II System to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to enhance their ability to communicate in the air. (U.S. Marine Corps photo courtesy of Chris Wagner)
Ground communications specialist Marines use the Networking On-the-Move-Airborne Increment II System on an MV-22 Osprey during a flight at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. (U.S. Marine Corps photo courtesy of Chris Wagner)

“It can take hours to fly to a location to complete a mission, and during that time, the situation on the ground can change significantly. The NOTM capability provides Marines with real time command, control and collaborative mission planning while airborne,” Chris Wagner, Marine Corps System Command’s (MCSC) NOTM lead engineer, said in a statement.

NOTM I was originally used by ground forces and then integrated onto KC-130 aircraft. The latest system arrives as the Marine Corps looks to expand tactical network access to its other aircraft.

MCSC and Naval Air System Command went through a joint effort to modify the Osprey so the NOTM II system could be installed on the aircraft.

Officials replaced the rear overhead hatch, installed a SATCOM radome and upgraded the aircraft with system interface cables.

NOTM II allows users in the air to boot the system and connect to the Marine Corps tactical network within 10 minutes.

“This system provides accurate and up-to-date en route information, which is critical for mission accomplishment and force protection,” Lt. Col. Devin Licklider, C2 program manager for MCSC, said in a statement. “If the situation on the ground changes, we can get updates to the Common Operating Picture, from reconnaissance assets to the commander enabling mission changes while en route.”

The Marine Corps is expected to test the use of secure tactical WiFi capabilities aboard the Osprey to eliminate the need for system cables on the aircraft, according to officials.

Pelatron, an electronic services company, first delivered the NOTM in 2013 and PacStar received a 2017 contract to expand support services for the communications system.