Network Communications News

America’s largest military shipbuilding company Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced on Wednesday that Bharat Amin has been named executive vice president and chief information officer.In this newly created position, Amin will be responsible for establishing the company’s information technology (IT) and digital strategic direction with a focus on cyber security capabilities through engagement with HII’s executive and division leadership teams. In collaboration with the business units, Amin will lead corporate IT governance and provide functional oversight.

To further enhance its research capabilities Eco Marine Power announced today that it will begin using the Neural Network Console provided by Sony Network Communications Inc., as part of a strategy to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into various ongoing ship related technology projects including the further development of the patented Aquarius MRE (Marine Renewable Energy) and EnergySail. The Neural Network Console is an integrated development environment using deep learning for AI creation and has been used in deep learning applied technology development within Sony since 2015. Various functions are included such as recognition technology and a full-fledged GUI (graphical user interface) and these allow for deep learning programs to be developed.

The General Dynamics Bluefin-21 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) successfully launched multiple Bluefin SandShark micro-autonomous underwater vehicles (M-AUV) Underwater vehicle (M-AUV as part of several capability demonstrations at the U.S. Navy sponsored 2016 Annual Naval Technology Exercises (ANTX) in Newport, R.I. Through several ANTX demonstrations, the Bluefin SandShark M-AUVs surfaced and functioned independent of the heavyweight-class Bluefin-21. In one mission scenario, the Bluefin-21 simulated data collection and transfer of target imagery and other information to two Bluefin SandSharks. Those Bluefin SandSharks then surfaced to communicate with a Blackwing unmanned aerial vehicle.

The U.S. Navy has ordered 56 AN/USC-61(C) Digital Modular Radios (DMRs) and related equipment from General Dynamics. The newly built DMR radios will be capable of using the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) waveform, the digital dial tone needed to make voice calls to the U.S. Department of Defense's next generation, narrowband MUOS satellite communications system. The four-channel radios form the foundation of the Navy's network communications aboard submarines, surface ships and on-shore locations. This order, valued at over $29 million, exercises option five on a contract awarded to General Dynamics in 2010. "DMR is an extremely versatile radio and we continue to update its capabilities to ensure that Navy communications networks have the most advanced and secure technologies…

General Dynamics’ four-channel Digital Modular Radios (DMR) are being upgraded with high-frequency dynamic routing (HFDR) software to turn the radio’s four channels into eight virtual channels. In addition to HFDR, the new high-frequency virtual channel exploitation software expands the DMR’s communications capacity to 16 virtual channels when operating in the high frequency (HF) line-of-sight and ultra-high frequency (UHF) satellite communications frequencies. With the two new software upgrades, the U.S. Navy has four-times more capacity for secure HF communications without adding additional hardware or changing the configuration in space-constrained shipboard radio rooms.

General Dynamics C4 Systems’ cyber-defense products team recently delivered the 100,000th TACLANE®-Micro (KG-175D) in-line network encryptor to the U.S. Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR). SPAWAR develops, delivers and sustains communications capabilities for warfighters, keeping them connected wherever they are around the world. Introduced in 2007, the rugged TACLANE-Micro is one of the most popular in-line network encryptor certified by the National Security Agency (NSA) to protect information classified Top Secret and below. The TACLANE-Micro provides cyber defense for networks operating in U.S. government agencies, embassies and military command and operation centers worldwide.

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, was awarded a $25.4 million full-production contract from Lockheed Martin to support the U.S. Air Force Global Positioning System (GPS) III Network Communications Element (NCE) for space vehicles seven and eight (SV 07-08). The Air Force's next-generation GPS III satellites will improve position, navigation and timing services and provide advanced anti-jam capabilities yielding superior system security, accuracy and reliability. "For more than 50 years, we have been a premier provider of spacecraft communications and navigation equipment for the nation's military and government agencies…

Hermes Datacommunications International Ltd., a company providing Wide Area Network communications to the upstream oil and gas industry, won a contract to support Tullow Oil plc. for their operations in Africa. The 24-month deal sees the company use its pan–African satellite platform to provide a connection from Tullow Oil’s data center in London to its Ethiopia office in Addis Ababa, extending core services to the continent and growing the current services in Kenya. Ian Theophilus…

Introducing a new addition to TE’s range of infrastructure management solutions for the data center or LAN environment. The new universal connectivity platform (UCP) is an advanced modular cabling concept designed for speed and flexibility, facilitating data center migration from one to 100 GbE. Supporting both copper and fiber component cabling, TE’s UCP delivers superior rack efficiency and is ideal for rapidly changing network communications infrastructure environments where space is at a premium.

Working on the high seas exposes all marine workers to life-and-death situations that landlocked individuals rarely face. One brief mistake or equipment failure can literally sink the ship. To prevent catastrophic losses, international rules and regulations, port authorities and insurance companies govern maritime safety for all types of vessels. Proper sea vessel and marine labeling improves safety by clearly marking all hazards, pipes and equipment. Labeling also explains proper maintenance and directions for startup procedures.

L-3 MPRI announced the release of Version 5.0 of its Liquid Cargo Handling Simulator (LCHS) software called Safe Cargo. This release incorporates significant improvements to the performance, instructor features and configuration options currently available in the software suite. The release is fully compliant with the latest Windows operating systems and incorporates a new network communications infrastructure that improves the speed and stability of the simulator as well as system diagnostics and recovery. The configuration wizard allows an instructor to quickly define the required simulator configuration for the training exercise, selecting from multiple ship types, and assigning the student stations to be operated independently or in groups.

Invsat Ltd., the U.K.-based telecommunications systems integrator, has been awarded a prestigious contract to provide network communications for the British Antarctic Survey in one of the world’s most challenging environments. The VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) network is connected via the NSS-7 satellite to Invsat’s earth station based at its Aberdeenshire HQ. Stabilized C-Band VSAT systems are being deployed on the two ice-strengthened Royal Research Ships that support the British Antarctic Survey's operations in the region. The two vessels are the RRS James Clark Ross, which has some of Britain's most advanced facilities for oceanographic research, and the RRS Ernest Shackleton which is primarily a logistics ship, used for the re-supply of the Survey's stations.