DARPA Picks Rockwell Collins To Lead Phase 1 Of Weapons Networking Program
During Phase 1 of QNT, worth $3.5 million, Rockwell Collins, along with its teammates Thales, Boeing, and Launch Pad Labs, will conduct initial architecture studies. Phases 2 and 3 are contract options valued at $26 million and could be awarded in December 2005 and September 2007, respectively.
The QNT program will develop robust, affordable miniature networked data link technologies suitable for use on weapons and by tactical unmanned air vehicles and dismounted soldiers. These data links will enable precision strike and efficient targeting against time-critical and mobile targets. These data links will also allow secure weapons handoff from the launch platform to any of several air or ground control platforms in the combat area.
"This award furthers our miniaturized weapons data links products and positions Rockwell Collins for future network-enabled weapons integrations," said Bruce King, vice president and general manager of Communications Systems at Rockwell Collins.
Rockwell Collins is currently developing two programs that are QNT enablers - the Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT) program with DARPA/AFRL and the Weapons Data Link Network (WDLN) program with Boeing. TTNT is a high-speed, low latency, dynamic ad hoc network designed to assist the U.S. military in creating a rapid retargeting capability. WDLN is an in-flight communication interface for precision-guided weapons.
SOURCE: Rockwell Collins