Directed Air Data LInk
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Saab AB - Saab Surveillance, Göteborg |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 2 400 000 |
| Project duration | October 2019 - December 2022 |
| Status | Ongoing |
| Venture | National Aeronautical Research Program 7 |
| Call | Research project in aviation technology - spring 2019 |
Purpose and goal
The project shall develop a concept for network topology protocol and a suitable waveform, with the aim to be executed on a hardware infrastructure that is output power adaptable and that transmits with a high directivity. It represents a first step towards proficiency in directed air data links, which are direly needed to replace the challenged legacy link systems.
Expected results and effects
Aerospace products increasingly consist of cooperative platforms and autonomous systems such as aircraft, ships, missiles, drones and decoys. The project assists with enabling technologies for this transformation while strengthening the European collaboration with regard to the radio hardware development (i.e., digital multi-channel AESA where Sweden is involved). Knowledge transfer between industry and academia further enables tailoring of future projects and syllabuses to match industry needs while increasing competiveness of SAAB’s tactical systems knowledge.
Planned approach and implementation
The project starts with a Saab description of (i) the hardware platform and external processes, (ii) the tactical data link requirements, (iii) the sensor data transfer requirements, and (iv) a representative scenario against which the COM concepts are to be tried. The network protocol and the waveform are then developed in parallel, which ensures the necessary handshake for mutual adaptation. The concepts are repeatedly tried against the scenario and refined according to the outcome.