DTC showcases on-the-man network bridging system

The DTC Dock Ultra on-the-man bridging system shown in March 2026, with (left) a Type 1 radio, (right) a MANET radio, and chest-mounted EUD and Dock Ultra. (Giles Ebbutt)

Domo Tactical Communications (DTC), a subsidiary of the Australia-based company Codan, has developed an on-the-man network bridging system in conjunction with Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC). DTC showcased the system at the 2026 SAE Media Group Future Soldier Technology conference held in London in March.

Nathan Rijckmans, DTC business development manager, said the system combines tactical radios, the Kagwerks Dismounted Operator's Combat Kit (DOCK) Ultra chest mount assembly, and SNC's Tactical Radio Application eXtension (TRAX) software, which allows operators to route data between incompatible hardware and software applications. “It's hosting a very powerful software process on the man which would normally have to be in much larger hardware” he said, adding that the system had been proven under laboratory conditions in early 2026.

The DOCK Ultra comprises an end-user device, an internal mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) radio, a USB power and data hub, an intra-soldier wireless (ISW) module and an NVIDIA Jetson Orin onboard computer. It is available with a variety of internal MANET radios including DTC's BluSDR-30, Silvus SC4210 and the TrellisWare TW-880 Ghost.

The demonstration assembly at the conference was running the TRAX software application on the Jetson Orin. Cursor on Target (CoT) data from a connected Trellisware 950 Shado low-side radio runs via the hub through the TRAX data guard and conversion protocols. It can then be safely retransmitted on a connected Type 1 high-side radio, such as a BATS-D, PRC163, PRC148 or PRC152, as Link 16, variable message format (VMF), joint range extension applications protocol (JREAP) and other formats.