BAE Systems Unmanned Aircraft Programs Inc
. filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for an experimental license to develop radio link equipment used in UAS operated by military branches for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) applications. Stark Aerospace filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for an experimental license to test a UAS for public safety and military applications.
More specifically, the testing of the BAE programme will involve the testing of a Microhard Systems model MHX320 wireless modem at BAE Systems’ factory in Tucson, Arizona. The MHX320 is a 310 to 390 MHz frequency hopping modem, which can be optimized for long distance communications of over 60 miles with throughput up to 230 kbps. Testing will be on 310.0-328.6 and 335.4-390.0 MHz.
In Stark’s application, communications from ground to aircraft is by two uplink modes; a primary mode and a backup mode. The primary mode uses the bands 4500-4800 and 4940-4990 MHz. The backup uses the 465-510 MHz band. No information on the downlink is found.
This information was supplied by industry expert, Steven J. Crowley, P.E. Consulting Engineer, who publishes a monthly report on the topic.