RUGGEDIZED MAST – THE RIGHT SOLUTION FOR TODAY’S BATTLEFIELD SURVEILLANCE ENVIRONMENT

Today’s battlefield requires access to information in a multitude of environments with varying terrains (both urban and rural) in either passive or active engagements. Ground vehicles need sensors that can be rapidly deployed to different locations and networked into the family of vehicles in order to effectively share information. Masted sensor systems, in particular, are a potential valuable resource with their ability to perform long-range surveillance over obstructions while minimizing vehicle exposure. To maximize effectiveness these systems must withstand harsh battlefield conditions without undue maintenance. The need for variable mast heights, on-the-move (OTM) sensor performance, the ability to support a wide variety of long-range sensors, internal cabling to better resist battlefield damage, resistance to armored vehicle vibration and shock environments, and rapid mast deployment and stowage have driven Lockheed Martin to a robust mast solution that meets this critical need.