Raytheon to develop smart-map battle network for U.S. Army
Raytheon signs contract to demonstrate smart-map computers which will allow soldiers to see enemy soldiers and each other on the digital maps even where GPS satellite navigation is unavailable
Good news for Raytheon — and for soldiers who must navigate through unknown territory in far-away lands. The company has signed a $11.8 million contract with the U.S. Army to develop and demonstrate networked smart-map computers for use by American soldiers in combat. Troops will be able to see enemy soldiers and each other on the digital maps even where GPS satellite navigation is unavailable. The new kit is known as “Ground Soldier Ensemble” (GSE).
“GSE will provide decisive tactical awareness to the infantry soldier through real-time display of networked battlefield information … finally linking the most important element, the dismounted soldier [to the battlefield network]” said Glynn Raymer, Raytheon war-net vice president.
Raytheon’s GSE contender will be based on the SwitchBack rugged computer from Tempe, Arizona-based Black Diamond Advanced Technology. The standard SwitchBack is built around a 1 GHz Celeron processor, has up to 2 GB of DDR RAM, and comes with Windows XP (though Vista or Linux are available as options). The computers also feature spinning hard drive or SSD for ultimate toughness, Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS satnav, etc.
Lewis Page writes that the SwitchBack’s main special sauce is the swappable “BackPack” modules which users can attach to the back of the machine. These can feature a mixture of extra ports and connectors, as well as peripherals such as cameras, magnetic stripe readers, barcode scanners, RFID, biometrics, and “custom communications.”
The box is heavily ruggedized to withstand being dropped on concrete from three or four feet, immersion in water, baking heat, and more. It weighs three pounds.
