Northrop Grumman [NOC] announced Tuesday the company has successfully validated the open architecture design of its advanced gateway system offering with the integration of a new L3Harris Technologies
[LHX]-developed High Capacity Backbone (HCB) capability, which the company called a critical step in furthering network technology required for the Pentagon’s Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) effort.
The demonstration to rapidly integrate the HCB capability with Northrop Grumman’s gateway system was set up in less than a week, according to the company, adding the technology proved out may help “enable data flow 300 times faster than the speeds previously available.”
“With this successful demonstration, we have taken HCB-enabled gateways from concept to reality in less than one year,” Ian Reynolds, Northrop Grumman’s director for network solutions, said in a statement. “Our platform agnostic, HCB-enabled gateway systems are designed to deliver the enhanced connectivity and secure processing speeds needed to introduce a wide range of new capabilities that will be critical for maintaining a technological advantage in network-centric, all-domain environments.”
Northrop Grumman said its advanced gateways are designed “to gather data from the HCB network and quickly share actionable information across air, land, sea and space domains,” which the Pentagon has established a key priority for building out its JADC2 architecture.
“By gathering information from multiple platforms using beyond line-of-sight, line-of-sight voice and data networks—including 5th generation networks—Northrop Grumman’s HCB-enabled gateway systems will significantly enhance the situational awareness picture for warfighters operating in JADC2 environments,” the company wrote.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin signed off on the Pentagon’s JADC2 strategy in mid-May, which officials said “brings about a sense of order” and accountability for the various technology and experimentation efforts being worked across the department to build a cross-service digital architecture for future multi-domain operations (Defense Daily, June 4).
“As the premier provider of high capacity directional CDL networks, L3Harris looks forward to supporting the DoD’s JADC2 efforts with future HCB team demonstrations,” Ron Fehlen, L3Harris’ vice president of U.S. Air Force programs, said in a statement. “Our resilient communications, airborne fielded datalinks, and high bandwidth allows a High Capacity Backbone to move massive data rapidly across networks and create path diversity over the tactical edge to keep warfighters connected.”