GD’s new air traffic radios complete FAA factory acceptance trials

General Dynamics (GD) C4 Systems’ new software defined CM 300/350 (V2) ultra high frequency (UHF) and very high frequency (VHF) air traffic control (ATC) radios have successfully completed the first phase of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) factory acceptance testing programme.

During the testing, the team validated the air traffic control radios’ hardware and software, marking a step ahead to entering service in FAA Facilities Nationwide while modernising the national airspace system.

The UHF radios are designed for communication with military aircraft pilots while VHF radios will link air traffic controllers with pilots in general aviation aircraft.

The networking radios have been designed to provide advanced communications capabilities such as unprecedented sound clarity enabling air traffic controllers and pilots to hear one another.

Additionally, the new radios will significantly improve the safety and efficiency of aircraft operating across the US national airspace.
Scheduled for this fall, the second phase of testing involves assessing performance of 90 CM-300/350 (V2) radios in realistic operational environments in FAA facilities in Florida, Oklahoma and New Jersey.

When fully deployed, the CM-300/350 (V2) radios offer a flexible communications network for air traffic controllers to manage commercial and military aircraft in-flight throughout the national airspace.