The Hanscom Air Force Base has started developing a prototype combat tool to allow voice, chat, video, command and control functions for partner countries. Conceptualized by Gen. David Goldfein, the Airborne Extensible Relay Over-Horizon Network will connect friendly units and deliver real-time location data and enemy movement to other allied forces, the U.S. Air Force said Thursday. AERONet has three different nodes that covers communications functions for airborne, ground and command teams.
“AERONet implementation can provide non-Link 16-enabled U.S. and partner nations’ warfighters the requisite data to enhance battlespace intelligence superiority by providing near-real-time situational awareness, thereby increasing their own force’s combat lethality while reducing the probability of fratricide incidents,†said Lt. Col. Jung Ha, director of quick reaaction capability branch for the Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence and Networks Program.
The planned system is based from an existing tool used by border patrol teams and first responders to repel wildfires in mountainous areas.
