Modular Airborne Cellular Radio/GPS Tracking System

"The Air Force requires a method of tracking released aircraft stores during operational testing, at altitudes from ground level to 100,000 feet, and at ranges up to 100 miles. This Phase II program will develop an Airborne Tracker for a cost effective andhighly practical software controlled radio and Global Positioning System (GPS) with an IMU based tracking system to meet this mission. It shall use commercial off the shelf components and standard PC's for control and databasing. A modular system designadaptable to a variety of air and ground assets (places where radio terminals are placed or carried) is planned. The system shall be primarily externally mounted on air assets using an electrocleavable adhesive, thus minimizing system integration cost byuse of inventory weapons and aircraft as opposed to specially instrumented test weapons and aircraft. A flexible design provides for levels of sophistication ranging from point to point links to airborne cellular networks, depending on the mission and theassets available. Any desired range may be supported via air to air relaying in the airborne cellular mode. Assets supported include ground stations, aircraft, UAV's, and sea based buoys and vessels."