The U.S. Joint Program Executive Office (JPEO) for the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) and ViaSat have demonstrated the ability to integrate commercial mobile satcom networks with JTRS networks, ViaSat announced Dec. 13.
    The demonstration attached a commercial broadband on-the-move satellite modem to the JTRS software-defined ground mobile radio. The system architecture included the JTRS-developed wideband networking waveform performing as a local wireless network, with the worldwide ViaSat Yonder Ku-band mobile broadband network as the beyond line-of-sight link.
    This integration aims to allow field commanders to interconnect dispersed field forces using JTRS radios and then backhaul communications to command centers or any other locations, including mobile locations, throughout the globe. The capability also has the potential to interconnect air, land and sea forces into an integrated tactical network for shared situational awareness and the distribution of voice, video or sensor data within theater or around the world.