General Dynamics radios and secure wireless network support new deployable landing system for U.S. Air Force

General Dynamics Mission Systems’ radios will provide the communications for the new U.S. Air Force Deployable Instrument Landing System (D-ILS), the Fairfax, VA-based company announced November12. The system, built by Thales, will give pilots the precision guidance they need to land at locations where the existing air traffic control system is unavailable or where no infrastructure exists, including temporary airfields in austere, isolated locations. The D-ILS will use the General Dynamics CM-300/350 V2 air traffic control (ATC) radios along with the Fortress ES2440 High-capacity Mesh Point wireless backhaul radios.

“The General Dynamics Mission Systems radios offer an integrated solution with commercial off-the-shelf products, delivering significant cost savings in bringing this new Air Force capability into service,” said Mike DiBiase, a vice president of General Dynamics Mission Systems.

The Thales D-ILS system will provide pilots with precise landing instructions during final approach in low-visibility or low-ceiling weather conditions. The system will also provide the Air Force with a highly deployable system for rapid set-up, activation and relocation during Air Force tactical and restoral-of-service operations.

The General Dynamics Mission Systems CM-300/350 V2 radios are the first VoIPUHF and VHF radios approved by the FAA for ground-to-air communications. The radios are being installed in airport control towers, FAA regional centers and training facilities nationwide.

General Dynamics Mission Systems’ Fortress wireless technology is currently used in military operations where vehicles, deployed assets, sensor devices and soldiers are operating in large outdoor areas and allows these distributed assets to connect to the network without the considerations and constraints of traditional wired networks.

Source: General Dynamics Mission Systems