Capabilities

Airhandler is designed to conduct BLOS UAV geo-location operations from MQ-1/9 aircraft primarily used against low-band (PTT) signals-of-interest. Airhandler is controlled via the acft KU Band data link. Currently C2 interface via NSA Net. Requires multiple collection nodes for increased geo-location accuracy.

Limitations and Planning Factors

- AWR completed for USSOCOM/ACC MQ-1/9 aircraft - Weight: ~13 lbs (LRU), requires modified VSAE including antenna and cable harness on both MQ-1/9 acft - Bandwidth requirements: Typical configuration, 4800 bps uplink, 256 kbps downlink - Current Payloads: Gilgamesh LRU - Payload Vendor(s): SNC

Vendor

Sierra Nevada Corporation ICW NSA OTRS/DAED and General Atomics

Privately owned Sierra Nevada, of Sparks, Nevada, claims to be the “top woman-owned federal contractor in the U.S.” The company is involved in electronics, avionics, and communications systems for aviation, space, and military customers. Sierra Nevada provides “integrated Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Electronic Warfare (EW), and Information Operations (IO) sensor system solutions for national security customers,” as well as manned and unmanned aircraft ISR systems integration and tactical communications for war fighters and first responders. — Margot Williams, The Intercept

Protocols

PTT (primary), COMINT 130-180Mhz, 220-475Mhz, freq range 20-3000Mhz