Omni-Directional Capability for Expanded SHARP Field-of-View

The Shared Reconnaissance Pod (SHARP) provides the U.S. Navy with the latest digital tactical reconnaissance capability. NAVAIR wishes to make SHARP data available to a larger number of surface terminals, thus expanding the SHARP Close Air Support mission capability. Coupled with concurrent enhancements to incorporate net-centric capabilities on the SHARP, the addition of an omni-directional capability will further enable warfighter access to the SHARP data product and expand the pod's utility. To this end, Barron Associates, Inc., in conjunction with L-3 Communications, Communication Systems-West (L-3 CS-W) and Raytheon, propose to develop an omni-directional capability for the SHARP, which will enhance the reconnaissance pod with improved rear hemispheric coverage, provide a smaller minimal data link standoff, aid in the acquisition process, and improve data transmission time to the greatest number of surface terminals, thereby providing capabilities for a robust net-centric FORCENet implementation. The Barron team possesses an unrivaled level of expertise with both antenna design and development and the SHARP technology and is intimately acquainted with the implementation details related to the relevant trades; the research team will leverage their experience to design and develop the best omni-directional solution to enhance current and future mission capabilities for the SHARP program.