FireNet™ Link 16 Radio

The warfighters of today operate in a data intense world. To maintain an advantage, they need large amounts of reliable data - and it needs to come fast.

It also needs to come on a secure and stable network. One with a wide bandwidth and constant connection, even through multiple data paths. That’s where our FireNet radio delivers the edge. It is a reliable, maintainable and secure tactical data link radio with advanced capabilities to equip the warfighter with the right data at the right time when it matters most.

Our system is intuitively designed for current and future fleets. It provides a Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA) solution that enables secure Line of Sight (LOS) voice, data, and network communication in platforms. This includes platforms that previously could not handle the Size Weight and Power (SWaP) of current communications systems.

It comes in an industry standard footprint, but it’s small enough to add flexibility to the fleet and minimize integration time. This allows operators to use of the system on platforms that lack extra space and still maintain its waveform interoperability allowing secure and reliable communications.

The FireNet system is a Concurrent Multinetting 4 (CMN-4)/Concurrent Contention Receive 4 (CCR4) compliant radio that sets the tactical data link standard.

Four physical RF connections (1 TX, 3 RX)

• Secure, high capacity, jam resistant digital data
• Inter-operable with MIDS-JTRS/LVT terminals
   

FireNet and MIDS JTRS

From the beginning of the FireNet system, our goal was to design a system that could maximize the compatibility and interoperability with the Multifunctional Information Distribution System - Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) system. This design allows us to use the MIDS JTRS Link 16 waveform in FireNet with minor modifications. The use of the Link 16 waveform from MIDS JTRS significantly reduces life cycle cost of software maintenance. System software updates are able to be integrated into systems by taking advantage of the already fielded software updates.

The benefits of equipping your fleet with the FireNet link 16 system:

• Preserves platform investments with deployed ARC-231A radio systems as well as flexible integration into new installs.
• Optimal size, weight, and power to make it easier to incorporate into constrained platforms.
• The Link 16 radio can be configured into the ARC-231A mounting tray minimizing SWaP, install costs and frees up room for additional capability.
• Self-contained radio and radio frequency (RF) amplifier package with integrated cooling allows for installation on a wide variety of platforms from Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) to stratospheric balloons.
• The most powerful Small Form Factor Advanced Capability (AC) compliant radio with remote ability power amplifier.
• MIDS JTRS transceiver design and Link 16 waveform as the baseline offering provide a low cost path for upgrades and life cycle support.
   

Designed to meet mission critical needs, the FireNet system has three different configurations:

• ARC-231A mounting trace replacement, remote RF amplifier
  Simply remove and replace of the ARC-231A mounting tray allows for the addition of a link 16 waveform without any addition of a Link 16 waveform without any additional space requirements beyond the remote mounted amplifier.
• Split radio with radio and RFA mounted separately
  The split radio design allows for flexible install options by allowing remote installation of the RF amplifier from the radio. Both units are conduction cooled and require no fans or forced air cooling.
• Self contained radio with RF amplifier top mounted to MOSA radio
  The self contained FireNet radio is a low SWAP, high performance, Link 16 solution that provides installation flexibility while maintaining conduction cooling to simplify and reduce overall footprint.