Air Force Print News (Nov. 20, 2006): Joint Tactical Radio System fielded soon.

WASHINGTON -- The Air Force is about to enter a new era in communications technology. Officials at the Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., have signed a $7.8M contract with Thales Communications, Incorporated, for the delivery of the first Joint Tactical Radio System radios to the Air Force.

More than 1,200 JTRS-enhanced multiband inter/intra team radios, known as JEM radios, will be delivered to civil engineer explosive ordnance disposal units, security forces, and air support operations squadrons across the Air Force. The radios will provide communications for convoy operations and enhance interoperability with the Army.

JTRS is a Defense Department-mandated, software-defined radio development program. A key element of the JTRS program is the network-centric capability it will provide to the warfighter.

JTRS eventually will bring Internet-like capabilities to the battlefield, enabling the transfer of voice, data, and video between Air Force and joint users alike.

Another significant feature is the ability of JTRS radios to "port" and operate various waveforms. Porting refers to loading of a software application that emulates the capabilities of legacy radios in use in the field today.

In short, if a user needs to talk to an Air Force aircraft using a specific waveform, that waveform is loaded into the radio. If later, that same user needs to communicate with an Army convoy unit using a completely different waveform, then that waveform is loaded into the same radio.

This capability gives the warfighter interoperability in a joint environment without the need to carry and maintain numerous different types of radios.

The JEM being delivered to the Air Force, while not network capable, will provide the interoperability aspects the JTRS program is seeking to fulfill. Aside from the basic ultra high frequency and very high frequency AM voice waveforms, the JEM will work in several frequency-hopping modes, plus is capable of porting future JTRS waveforms within its operating range. Deliveries will begin later this year.

This delivery of radios is just the first installment of a multi-year migration to JTRS. The Air Force's path to JTRS is documented in the Air Force JTRS migration plan. This document, compiled by the Air Force Command and Control Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Center JTRS lead command office, was originally signed Dec. 29, 2003.

The JTRS lead command office has conducted numerous data calls throughout the Air Force to determine what requirements exist, validated those requirements through the major commands, and documented them in the migration plan. Version 2 of the migration plan is currently being staffed through the major commands, and is expected to be signed before the end of the year.