RADIOS TESTED IN FRIGID CONDITIONS
Cold weather is just one in a series to assess performance
in a variety of extreme environmental conditions.
Tests were conducted at the Marine Corps’ Mountain Warfare Training Center, Pickel Meadow, Calif., in January, and at the Army’s Cold Regions Test Center, Bolio Lake Test Complex, Fort Greely, Alaska, in March.
The purpose of this series of tests was to assess compliance of the radios with environmental requirements and to determine the effectiveness, suitability and survivability of the CSCHR radios in extreme cold weather environments. The difficult environmental conditions included -35 degree F temperatures, blowing snow and 40 mph winds.
Department of Defense acquisitions traditionally employ rigid testing plans to evaluate systems prior to acceptance. The procurement of COTS and non-developmental item (NDI), coupled with the desire to streamline the acquisition process, requires a more flexible and responsive test and evaluation strategy.
The CSCHR product management team has responded to this challenge by developing a comprehensive acquisition strategy to procure COTS/NDI radios while concurrently administering a comprehensive test program to ensure that these radios meet specifications and warfighter needs.
Tests are designed to evaluate the radio’s performance in a variety of environments and tactical situations.
In November 2008, tests were conducted to assess CSCHR longrange voice and data capabilities in a high desert environment at the Electronic Proving Ground, Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
The cold-weather testing is just one in a series to assess the radios’ performance in a variety of extreme environmental conditions. The ultimate goal is to ensure the radios are beneficial to warfighters regardless of the condition.
The next series of field tests are set to take place in June and July at Fort Benning, Ga., and will evaluate the radios’ capability in several tactical environments including ground-to-ground and ground-to-air scenarios. Future tests include testing radio performance in extreme desert, tropical and jungle environments.
SINGLE CHANNEL RADIOS
JPEO JTRS directed the establishment of the CSCHR Product Office in June 2007.
The purpose of the office is to consolidate the procurement of single channel radio systems that are compliant with JTRS Software Communications Architecture standards, National Security Agency requirements, and have been assessed by the Joint Interoperability Test Command for interoperability. All JTRS-compliant radio systems are subjected to extensive testing to ensure their effectiveness, suitability and survivability. The CSCHR acquisition strategy allows multiple vendors of JTRS compliant radio systems to compete for each consolidated delivery order.
Since its establishment, the CSCHR office has procured more than 85,000 tactical radio systems with associated vehicle amplifiers and radio accessories for the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and the Navy. The CSCHR procurement strategy of consolidating and competing delivery orders for all services has resulted in the return of over $330 million to the services. These radio systems have been successfully deployed by all services in all regions of the world, including combat regions in Iraq and Afghanistan. ♦
Editor’s Note: This is another in a regular series of updates on the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS), as provided by the program’s Joint Program Executive Office (JPEO).
