Integration of Satellite Based Broadband Data Service Into the UH-60 Blackhawk

Airborne Battle Command systems in the US Army require constantly increasing data communications bandwidth in order to maintain connectivity with other mobile and fixed Battle Command systems. Database exchanges, sensor data transmission, and Situational Awareness communications have created a need for mobile broadband data connectivity that has outstripped the capabilities of traditional military communications systems. Additionally, communications systems that have performed this function in the past have been terrestrially based, which limits their geographic coverage and requires substantial resources in-theater in order to operate effectively. Airborne Battle Command platforms such as the UH-60 Blackhawk hosted Army Airborne Command and Control System (A2C2S) therefore require Satellite based broadband data service in order to retain the efficacy of their embedded Battle Command Software Systems in environments where terrestrially based communications systems are not available. Challenges to integrating this capability into the UH-60 are signal blockage from the airframe, limited locations for antennas, radiation hazards to personnel, and weight/space/power limitations. Under the direction of the Project Management Office for A2C2S, the Aviation Applied Technology Directorate at Ft. Eustis, VA has developed a suite of equipment for the UH-60 that provides a secure satellite based transmission facility with bandwidth sufficient to carry multiple voice, video or data channels simultaneously. The final configuration provides the user with a rapidly installed kit that provides these services in all operational environments and with minimal impact to the weight, space, and power constraints of the host platform.