The U.S. Air Force (USAF) has completed testing on a new software upgrade designed to provide airborne US military aircraft with wireless router capabilities, enabling “almost instantaneous” communication between groups of ground forces. According to the USAF, the Net-T software upgrade will be included in the LITENING and Sniper advanced targeting systems.
The Net-T software upgrade gives groups of ground forces the ability to communicate remotely with each other using the Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver-5 (ROVER-5), a small touchscreen device. Previously, the ROVER-5 could only send and receive data directly from an aircraft; now, the devices can communicate directly with each other using the aircraft signals.
“The groups on the ground need ‘line of sight’ to the aircraft in the air, not each other,” Net-T project test engineer Capt. Joseph Rojas, said. “This opens up communication possibilities to support ground operations across all services.”
Minimal interaction is required between the pilot and the Net-T portion of the targeting pod once the network is made active to prevent excessive distraction of the pilot, said Maj. Olivia Elliott, flight commander of the 40th Flight Test Squadron (FLTS).
“It’s a single button push,” Elliott said. “After that, the pilot must maintain within the range of the Rover’s transmitter and stay within view of the users. There’s little to no interference with airborne operations of the targeting pod.”
For more information, visit Eglin Air Force Base.
Image: Samuel King Jr./U.S. Air Force
