Rockwell Collins Delivers RT-1851(C) Next Generation Radio, Features Faster Transfer Rates

Rockwell Collins Delivers RT-1851(C) Next Generation Radio, Features Faster Transfer Rates

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (July 18, 2002) - Rockwell Collins (NYSE:COL), a global leader in aviation electronics and communications, has delivered the first RT-1851(C) Engineering Development Model radios to the U.S. Navy. Utilizing Bandwidth Efficient Advance Modulation (BEAM) technology, the radio provides data transfer rates up to five times faster than current rates over UHF satellite communication links or line-of-sight modes of operation.

When compared to previous generation radios, the RT-1851(C)'s smaller size, weight and added BEAM capability make it an ideal choice for tactical, rotary wing and unmanned aerial vehicle applications. Collins RT-1851(C) has a fully digital, waveform reconfigurable reprogrammable, integrated open modular architecture, allowing for unprecedented flexibility and growth. Based on the PC software architecture model, Collins RT-1851(C) users have the ability to upgrade communications capabilities via software on site. It supports a broad range of waveforms including: UHF SATCOM DAMA MIL-STD-188-181A/182A/183A, MIL-STD-188-181B, MIL-STD-188-220B/C, SATURN and VDL Modes 2 & 3 voice and data.

BEAM was developed in a joint effort between Rockwell Collins and the Office of Naval Research and the Naval Air Systems Command. It provides an information rate of up to 80 kb/s in SATCOM or 100 kb/s in line-of-site modes of operation using a standard 25 kHz channel. This capability is within three decibels (dB) of Shannon's limit, a theoretical data rate limit for constant envelope signaling, and surpasses conventional UHF SATCOM systems that until now have provided only 16 kilobits per second. Prior to BEAM, the highest data rates demonstrated over such channels without BEAM have been 56 kbps, requiring over three times more signal power than BEAM.

The Collins RT-1851(C) is the latest and most capable member of the highly successful family of Collins ARC-210 airborne radios. With more than 13,000 radios fielded worldwide, the ARC-210 has become the accepted standard for multi-band, multi-mode radios.

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