Viasat, a global communications company, and a competitor in the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program, has received authorization by the National Security Agency (NSA) for immediate use by Five Eyes (FVEY) partners and coalition forces, worldwide, for the company’s Battlefield Awareness and Targeting System – Dismounted (BATS-D) device.
The Viasat BATS-D radio is known to the United States Department of Defense (DoD) as the AN/PRC-161, bridges a critical gap between air and ground forces by providing real-time fused air/ground situational awareness to coordinate and direct forces instantaneously via machine-to-machine interface.
(Part of Viasat’s family of next-generation tactical data links, the Battlefield Awareness Targeting System–Dismounted (BATS-D) AN/PRC-161 handheld radio removes mission uncertainty and quickens the pace of battle by instantly and accurately sharing the location of dismounted and enemy forces from the ground directly to Close Air Support pilots and other Link 16 operators. Courtesy of Viasat and YouTube. Posted on Jan 10, 2017.)
The terminal offers warfighters at the tactical edge secure, reliable access to integrated air and ground data for improved situational awareness capabilities and enhanced close air support communications.
Empowered with better communications, warfighters can more rapidly engage enemy targets and reduce the risk of fratricide incidents.
“Viasat has a deep and enduring commitment to working with allies and coalition partners to improve warfighter safety by enhancing mission effectiveness and communications,” said Ken Peterman, president, Government Systems, Viasat.
“Viasat’s AN/PRC-161 BATS-D is the world’s first and only handheld Link 16 radio. It is designed to solve the military’s urgent need for a small, secure Link 16 device capable of being employed by a dismounted operator that can seamlessly interoperate between air and ground forces.”
“With NSA authorization we can speed the time to market for how U.S., FVEY and coalition militaries securely communicate and deter threats on the battlefield.”
The patented AN/PRC-161 BATS-D handheld radio is ideal for bringing full Link 16 network access to FVEY Special Operations and Expeditionary Forces.
(Learn More. The handheld link 16 Radio (HHL16) provides a tactical data link to joint terminal attack controllers and pilots, allowing digitally aided close air support (CAS). Courtesy of Nellis Television and YouTube. Posted on Apr 7, 2016.)
Security innovations in the AN/PRC-161 BATS-D handheld Link 16 radio, including Type 1 encryption, allow for seamless interoperability with other Link 16 radios such as the Multifunctional Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminal (MIDS-LVT), MIDS Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) and KOR-24A Small Tactical Terminal (STT).
The radio can be used vest-worn, handheld, or mounted, and is ideal for bringing full Link 16 network access to Special Operations and Expeditionary Forces, including Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs), Forward Air Controllers (FACs), Tactical Air Control Party (TACPs), as well as Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) constrained platforms.
This handheld radio arms dismounted JTACs, FACs, and TACPs with a direct connection into the Link 16 network to digitally call for fire and provide all platforms and nodes with accurate SA for an integrated air/ground Common Operational Picture.
The terminal offers edge users access to both air and ground (friendly and enemy) SA data and can provide secure, reliable target data and Position Location, Identification (PLI) and status information to the network.
The radio also features J-Voice capability for direct voice communications with other Link 16 users. This direct link between dismounted ground warfighters and Close Air Support aircraft dramatically shortens the kill chain.
The Viasat BATS-D enables JTACs, FACs, and TACPs to Find, Fix, & Finish the target at an exponentially faster rate with greater accuracy than ever before.
Viasat at a Glance
Viasat creates new ways to access advanced network applications with satellite and other wireless networking systems that enable fast, secure, and efficient communications to any location.
The company provides networking products and services for enterprise and consumer IP applications; is a key supplier of network-centric military communications and encryption technologies to the U.S. government; and is the primary technology partner for gateway and customer premises equipment for consumer and mobile satellite broadband services.
Other products and services include communication system design, satellite antenna systems, integrated circuits, and network acceleration.
Viasat in 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program
AST focuses on Homeland Security and Public Safety Breaking News, the Newest Initiatives and Hottest Technologies in Physical & IT Security, essential to meeting today’s growing security challenges.
The 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program, is organized to recognize the most distinguished vendors of Physical, IT, Port Security, Law Enforcement, Border Security, First Responders, (Fire, EMT, Military, Support Services Vets, SBA, Medical Tech) as well as the Federal, State, County and Municipal Government Agencies – to acknowledge their outstanding efforts to ‘Keep our Nation Secure, One City at a Time.’
As an ‘ASTORS’ competitor, Viasat will be competing against the industry’s leading providers of Innovative Security Programs for Government and Military Solutions.
To Learn More about the ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program, see 2017 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners Honored at ISC East..
Over 100 distinguished guests from National, State and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Executives from companies allied to Government, gathered from across North America and the Middle East to be honored from disciplines across the Security Industry in their respective fields which included representatives from:
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- The Department of Justice
- The Security Exchange Commission
- State and Municipal Law Enforcement Agencies
- The Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Leaders in Private Security
