by Michael Peck
Raytheon has been awarded a $134.4 million Air Force contract to design a communications system for command and control of nuclear-armed bombers. Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminals Increment I is a "secure, survivable multi-path communication system used to disseminate nuclear command and control messages from national-level decision authorities to wing command posts and bomber, tanker and reconnaissance aircrews at geographically dispersed locations," according to the Department of Defense contract announcement.
An earlier Raytheon press release described GASNT as using both Extremely High Frequency and Advanced Extremely High Frequency waveforms for protected communications in difficult environments. Development is expected to be completed by December 2016, with production, installation, and sustainment options extending to December 2020.
The satellite terminals support military operations on older Milstar satellites, and are ready to operate with the newest Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellites as soon as they are declared operational, according to a Raytheon announcement.
http://www.defensenews.com/article/20131224/C4ISRNET06/312240007/Raytheon-takes-nuclear-communications-contract?odyssey=mod_sectionstories
