Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS) has demo'd the ability of its advanced Highband Networking Radio to provide high-capacity air-to-air and air-to-ground communications — including streaming video — at ranges of up to 130 nautical miles and at altitudes up to 24,000 feet during the U.S. Air Force CAPSTONE II exercise.

The event was conducted last year from September 15th to the 24th at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland, was designed to validate the performance and interoperability of technologies that are candidates for future military airborne communications platforms. The Highband Networking Radio (HNR) hosts the Harris-developed Highband Networking Waveform, which implements robust, agile, full mesh, ad hoc networks for terrestrial and airborne applications. The Highband Networking Waveform (HNW) enables autonomous selection of the best communications path, creating a self-forming, self-healing network where nodes can enter and exit without need for fixed network infrastructure or operator intervention.

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During CAPSTONE II, two HNRs provided high-capacity, mobile ad hoc communications onboard the Air Force's Paul Revere aircraft and a Navy RC-12 aircraft operating over the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay. Two other HNR nodes were deployed at Patuxent River Naval Air Station and at Wallops Island, Virginia. This was the first time the HNR - HNW combination was used in an air- to-air application. A Harris prototype long-range, Ku-band antenna was used to demo the HNW's full mesh capability and long-range network functionality. During the testing, the HNR interoperated with several different systems, including Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL) and Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT), demonstrating its ability to exchange data with diverse communications systems and to co-exist on the same platforms without interference.

The Highband Networking Radio integrates directive-beam technology with mobile, ad hoc mesh networking, and achieves burst data rates of up to 54 Mbps. HNR has been implemented on a variety of fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and airship platforms, including piloted aircraft and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAVs). Applications of the Highband Networking Waveform and the HNR extend to a variety of scenarios, including terrestrial tactical communications augmented by air-to-ground and air-to-air nodes, as well as air and missile defense missions. They also can be used to extend the battlespace network into the maritime force contingent, connecting expeditionary forces, near-shore support, and blue-water platforms. The Highband Networking Radio was co- developed with BAE Systems.