USMC Wireless Reach Back Project
 The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Corona Division was tasked with providing wideband wireless capabilities in support of fixed and mobile users on USMC tactical training ranges, enabling them to pass critical information in a dynamic and highly volatile environment. The first installation of the project, known as the Wireless Reach-Back (WRB) program, was at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) in Twentynine Palms, California.
"The aim of the WRB project is to improve ground and air tracking capability on training ranges," said Don Gunnell, Lead Engineer for the Corona Division. "This WRB program provides voice, video and data communications to military personnel on the range – whether on foot or in vehicles – ensuring important information is being relayed during training exercises. WRB will make these exercises safer and more effective." Fortress' FIPS 140-2 validated ES520 Secure Wireless Bridges were combined with Luxul Shock-WAV Frequency Translating Amplifiers (FTAs) to provide the secure wireless capability over alternative spectrum. The Fortress solution was selected because it was able to meet both the distance and AES security requirements for the project. USMC Ranges (Cherry Point)Fortress Technologies ES520 Secure Wireless Bridges have been deployed as the backbone for a Wireless Reach-Back (WRB) project for the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Corona Division's East Coast operations. WRB provides extended outdoor secure wireless capabilities for fixed and mobile users in military training and bombing exercises on ranges at the Naval Air Station Altoona, FL (NAS Altoona), enabling them to share critical information in a dynamic environment.
WRB consists of semi-permanent and deployable wireless mesh points strategically placed from the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC (MCAS Cherry Point) to NAS Altoona. This allows for quick and easy reconfiguration of the range to support multiple and ever-changing training scenarios. WRB also enables the sharing of critical voice, video, and data information over Internet Protocol (IP) during mission-critical exercises at NAS Altoona. This includes a highly integrated network that seamlessly delivers voice traffic to coordinate range safety and unit movement, video to allow the warfighter's reactions to be monitored and recorded, and control data to activate range equipment – all managed remotely from MCAS Cherry Point. "We selected the Fortress solution because it deploys easily and rapidly, has the requisite certifications and accreditations, and creates an improved warfighter training environment," said Zac Grayner, RF Engineer, Northrop Grumman and East Coast WRB project manager. "The ES520 provides needed flexibility for the NSWC's changing requirements and can be deployed in harsh outdoor environments. WRB not only improves the efficiency of the training, but the increased communications capabilities make it safer." |
"It is essential for the military to properly train its warfighters in real-life battlefield scenarios prior to deployment," said Kevin Kohl, NSWC. "In order to conduct this training more efficiently, we needed to extend our communications capabilities to remote locations, while increasing bandwidth and complying with the stringent security mandates of the U.S. Navy. We also needed to do this without the expense of moving fixed infrastructures, trenching hard wires, or leveraging microwave technologies. WRB was the best approach and is clearly a step forward in the ability to train our soldiers for battle."