The U.S. Special Operations Command, or USSOCOM, and Air Force Special Operations Command, or AFSOC, have issued a sources sought notice to explore the integration of Starlink and Starshield satellite communication systems onto the AC-130J Ghostrider aircraft.
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What Is the Goal of the Starlink/Starshield Integration on AC-130J?
According to the request for information published Tuesday on SAM.gov, the effort aims to enable beyond-line-of-sight, or BLOS, satellite connectivity on the Ghostrider gunship, which provides tactical air support and battlefield surveillance for ground troops, to support various networked mission systems.
What Capabilities Will Be Required From the Potential Contractor?
The potential contractor should be able to provide a ruggedized, removable installation for special operations aircraft that utilizes off-the-shelf secure SATCOM terminals and controllers for harsh global operations, with potential roll-on/roll-off capability. The design should be compatible with other C-130 variants, while minimizing size, weight and power, or SWAP, efficiency.
In addition, the company should provide reliable network connectivity, support open-source interfaces and architecture and be ready to collaborate with third-party integrators. Interested companies should submit their responses by Jan. 30.
Following the 2022 launch of Starshield, SpaceX’s encrypted constellation designed for national security missions, Pentagon units have pursued the integration of the flexible, affordable terminals into their operations, reported DefenseScoop.
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