BAE Systems, Airbus and General Dynamics Develop STRIKE Tactical Hotspot Concept Demonstrator

The British Army, along with BAE Systems, Airbus and General Dynamics have collaborated to develop a STRIKE Tactical Hotspot concept demonstrator for tactical mobility supported by high capacity communication solutions.

Tactical Hotspot is a compact, mobile solution that can be securely deployed in an armoured vehicle. The equipment is fitted to an adapted Panther vehicle with self-erecting masts for radio equipment, providing an area of secure connectivity for a number of kilometres around the vehicle. By fitting the communication solution in a protected mobility vehicle, the platform can manoeuvre alongside the STRIKE Brigade, enabling continuous secure communications to the frontline, BAE Systems said in a statement Tuesday.

The British Army has awarded us a £1.2 million contract to supply two experimental STRIKE Tactical Hotspots.

Steph McMenamin, UK Deployed Networks Capture Lead here at BAE Systems said: "We have combined  the power of modern commercial technologies with the surety of in-service solutions which will connect users securely in what may be remote and hostile environments. Our partnership with the British Army has been a springboard for early experimentation, building on the success of the Falcon broadband solution. We went from design to a fully integrated prototype in nine months.”

The experimental STRIKE Tactical Hotspots which will be used by the British Army are the product of a technology development programme funded by us in collaboration with General Dynamics and Airbus. The Hotspot integrates Falcon broadband with Bowman TacCIS and SATCOM-on-the-Move, enhanced with the power of 4G, WiFi and Tactical Datalinks (WEnDL) capability.