Cubic to deliver common data link for Idaho National Laboratory’s unmanned platforms

Cubic has been awarded $1.8m contract by the Idaho National Laboratory to deliver common data link (CDL) for integration into unmanned platforms, mainly Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS).

As a science-based applied engineering national laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory supports the US Department of Energy’s tasks in nuclear and energy research, science and national defence.

Under the first phase of the two phased programme, all the participating five companies, including Cubic, will complete a specific portion of the waveform development for a next-generation bandwidth efficient common data link (BE-CDL Rev B).

The BE-CDL Rev B system would be deployed for the communication of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and command/control (C2) data from UAS to other military communications tools.

Cubic Defense Systems president Dave Schmitz said: "We strive to continually provide innovative communications solutions to our customers and we are proud to be selected to provide a BE-CDL Rev B solution.

"With our offering, we provide a robust, low-latency, high-capacity network supporting tomorrow’s needs today."

Claimed to be extremely versatile, CDL system uses narrower swath of RF frequencies compared to the currently used standard CDL (STD-CDL) and assures secure and expeditious SUAS ISR and C2 data transmissions.

The BE-CDL Rev B will maintain complete CDL capability and broadcast full-motion video and sensor feeds from unmanned aircraft and several US ISR platforms are anticipated to support this system in future.