Apache Communicates With Ground Soldiers for First Time

Boeing and the US Army have successfully beamed live video images between an apache helicopter and dismounted soldiers on the ground.

The exercise demonstrated the AH-64D Apache Block III attack helicopter's C4ISR capabilities.

Using ITT's Soldier Level Integrated Communications Environment device used by the Army's Future Force Warrior, the helicopter was able to communicate directly with individual ground soldiers for the first time.

The test was designed to prove the helicopter's ability to convey voice, video and information faster and more efficiently across a battlefield communications network using software-programmable radios.

The system will be tested further over the next two years and is expected to be in use in 2012.

By staff writer