Silvus Technologies demos future MANET capabilities

Announcing the latest software-defined radio (SDR) in its family of Mobile Networked- Multiple Input and Multiple Output (MN-MIMO) solutions, Silvus Technologies demonstrated a range of emerging concepts of operations (CONOPS) to industry partners and end-users in September.

Conducted from 6 to 7 September at a training facility near Reading, United Kingdom, the ‘Silvus Connect Tactical Mesh Technology Demonstration’ provided a glimpse into how special operations forces (SOF) and other units could use mobile ad hoc networks (MANET) in the future. The event coincided with the announcement of Silvus’ latest SDR to be added to the StreamCaster family of systems, with a release date scheduled for 2020.

According to Silvus Technologies’ founder Babak Daneshrad, the company’s new SL4200 was designed as a lighter-weight version of the SC4200, enhancing mobility for small-unit teams.

With a power output of 1 W, the single-band radio was designed as a cost-effective solution meant to lower entry barriers into the MANET market. Similar to other members in the StreamCaster family, the SDR was designed to address growing demand, from special mission users in particular, for distributing video and other high-bandwidth data in austere environments.

The ‘Connect’ event saw the family of StreamCaster SDRs deployed across a variety of “real-world scenarios in a diverse range of environments and applications”, explained Allen Johnston, Silvus Technologies’ senior international sales director.

The company was joined by a series of specialist C4ISTAR companies that either support wider networked solutions supported by StreamCaster SDRs, or are scheduled to be integrated at some point in the future.