September 28, 2007
SCA Technica, Inc. received an $860,000 contract from US Navy SPAWAR Systems Center to develop a prototype Common Reference Platform for the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) family of software defined radios (SDR). The system will be used as the foundation for a family of new waveforms being developed for JTRS SDRs replacing the tactical radios used by the US military over the next decade. The firm will also develop secure networking software for next-generation Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks (MANET). The internationally exportable, open-architecture system complies with the JTRS Software Communication Architecture (SCA 2.2.2). The prototype will include a new “Type 1” crypto development module using the “Common Interface to Cryptographic Modules” (CICM) application programming interfaces (APIs) developed by the US Air Force. The system also uses the patent-pending “High Assurance Wireless Computing System” (HAWCS™) architecture allowing mobile platforms and SDRs to employ robust wireless waveforms capable of resisting wireless and Internet attacks. Team members include Spectrum Signal Processing, Objective Interface Systems and Virginia Tech. SCA Technica is working closely with the Software Defined Radio Forum (www.sdrforum.org), the world’s leading software defined radio and cognitive radio industry association, to develop open architecture system interfaces and APIs for the new Common Reference Platform. If successful, the system can reduce the cost and complexity of developing and “porting” new waveforms for “SCA compliant” military and Homeland Security wireless networking programs.