KnightHawk 3G network-in-a-box breaks soldiers’ backs, helps them get online anywhere

While it’s easy enough to check soldiers scaling battlegrounds with portable hotspots in tow, it’s a useless solution for warriors deployed to remote areas which have patchy service to start with. Enter the KnightHawk 3G, a rugged network-in-a-box that cooks up connectivity in otherwise uncovered areas. The self-contained WCDMA network runs over the 2100MHz spectrum, promising download speeds as fast as 14.4mbps and max upload rates of five.76mbps. It has capacity for as much as 60 simultaneous voice calls and may handle 14 HSPA connections at a time. And it’ll help keep our troops in top shape — you’re able to’t tell from the photos, but that thing weighs 45 pounds.

Harris Corporation Introduces Tactical 3G Cellular Network-in-a-Box for Warfighters
MELBOURNE, Fla., April 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ –

Highlights

Provides warfighters with 3G cellular service capabilities in remote and rugged locations
Super-fast connectivity enables warfighters to become on-the-move sensors
Small size, weight and power (SWaP) for mobile or fixed deployments

Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS), an international communications and information technology company, has introduced KnightHawk™ 3G – a ruggedized, highly mobile tactical base station that enables warfighters at the move to maintain 3G cellular services in locations with limited or no cellular connectivity.

Jointly developed by Harris and Battleground Telecommunications Systems (BTS™), KnightHawk 3G is a customizable cellular Network In a Box (NIB) compatible with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment, including smartphones and tablets. Each KnightHawk 3G is installed with BTS Praefectus™ Mission Management Software, which automates configuration and management of the cellular network, and enables each KnightHawk to operate autonomously or as a scalable network with hundreds of nodes for increased range. This compatibility allows users in the battlefield to leverage existing applications, thereby enabling them to track a team’s location, automatically translate foreign languages, and conduct remote training using existing advanced programs.

KnightHawk 3G features UMTS High Speed Packet Access, providing extremely fast connectivity of 14.4 mbps for downloads and up to 5.76 mbps for uploads. It also offers the benefits of small size, weight and tool (SWaP), making it ideal for mobile, multi-mission requirements in challenging environments.

“KnightHawk 3G is a landmark system that gives the U.S. military immediate access to millions of low-cost commercial devices already at the market while maintaining compatibility with future standards,” said Dan Pearson, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Harris. “Our unique solution blends the principle of interoperability with capabilities that use the current cellular tower model and enables the military to deploy it on a variety of platforms while at the move.”

“KnightHawk 3G allows the warfighter to coach, fight and communicate more effectively by bringing cutting-edge 3G/4G commercial technology, corresponding to the Droid, iPhone®, iPad®, and other advanced devices to the battlefield,” said Sean Lane, BTS chief executive officer. “From an intelligence perspective, KnightHawk 3G enables every warfighter to become a sensor being able to report audio, video, and other data to commanders in real time.”