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The companies have jointly tested the utility helicopter’s data transmission capability using next generation 5G technology.
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Lockheed Martin and AT&T have announced the secure transmission of UH-60M Black Hawk health and usage data via an AT&T 5G private cellular network and Lockheed Martin’s 5G.MIL multi-site pilot network.
The test, conducted on 4 August at Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky headquarters in Connecticut, reportedly demonstrated 5G technologies on the flight line can support accelerated maintenance operations and improved aircraft readiness.
According to the companies, the results also confirmed highly secure interoperability between the AT&T millimetre wave 5G private cellular network and the 5G.MIL pilot network.
“These 5G capabilities deployed at scale are expected to enable high-speed, secure-data transfer on virtually any flight line, providing another example of how we’re advancing our ‘21st Century Security’ vision by improving customer readiness and operations,” Dan Rice, vice president of 5G.MIL Programs at Lockheed Martin, said.
“In collaboration with commercial 5G leaders, an interoperable 5G.MIL multi-site, multi-vendor network is another step closer to reality.”
Specifically, the AT&T 5G millimetre wave private cellular network wirelessly transferred data to the 5G.MIL network through ground support equipment from the Black Hawk’s Integrated Vehicle Health Management System (IVHMS).
Once transferred, the data was routed to local Sikorsky networks for processing and distribution through the Lockheed Martin 5G.MIL pilot network to the Waterton, Colorado, 5G test range site.
Black Hawk crews currently take approximately 30 minutes to remove the IVHMS data cartridge from the helicopter, transporting it to an operations centre and extracting the data for analysis.
In comparison, the AT&T 5G private cellular technologies reportedly reduced the time required to less than five minutes, including cartridge removal.
The IVHMS is designed to provide monitoring and diagnostic capabilities — monitoring, capturing and evaluating detailed aircraft-generated data as a result of flight manoeuvres.
The technology is also built to capture aircraft limit exceedances on airframe and dynamic components, while monitoring temperature and vibration of key components on the aircraft.
This is achieved by leveraging hundreds of on-board sensors that report the status of the aircraft by monitoring the airframe, engines, and other dynamic components.
“Timely and secure transfer and analysis of mission and operations data are critical to military readiness and effectiveness,” Lance Spencer, client executive vice president, defence, AT&T Public Sector and FirstNet, said.
“This is one of many areas of commercial 5G innovation we are exploring to support defence, commercial aviation, and related fields where our 5G-related services can modernize legacy processes and help deliver truly transformational benefits.”
[Related: Lockheed Martin appoints new EVP]
