Global Information Grid (GIG) Tactical Edge Networks (TEN)

The Long Reach Drop-in Hotspot (LRDH) is a low cost technology that is easily and rapidly deployed to provide broadband Global Information Grid (GIG) connectivity to small teams in remote areas at virtually any time and place. The LRDH offers a low cost mission alternative to expensive resources such as helicopters and fixed wing aircraft and allows commanders to run more missions more effectively while increasing situational awareness and enhancing team safety. The system is inexpensive and easily deployed because it utilizes low cost, man-portable LRDH equipped Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV’s) to form an instant broadband mesh network in the sky. The teams are easy to equip because they use Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), laptops or other standard Wi-Fi devices to access the GIG connectivity. The LRDH Comms Module is an enhanced COTS based technology that includes 2 radios and a high performance directional antenna system. One radio is used to create an Internet Protocol (IP) based communication mesh network in the sky. The second radio provides a downward looking Wi-Fi hotspot that connects with the COTS-equipped teams below. The LRDH technology is applicable to a wide range of military and commercial requirements.