Raytheon Team Proposes Single ADS-B Frequency for U.S.

Raytheon is proposing that the FAA adopt a single international frequency standard for ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance) in order to reduce equipment costs.

A team led by Raytheon was one of three recently selected by the FAA to compete for the agency's program to implement ADS-B nationwide.

The Raytheon surveillance approach would use QinetiQ's Quadrant ADS-B product that would be carried on Verizon's telecommunications network, using existing ARINC and Verizon air-ground radio and cellular towers.  QinetiQ's partner, COMSOFT, would provide the ground-based transmitters and receivers, as well as supporting system analysis and ground station design.  ARINC would be responsible for the installation, operations and maintenance of the system's ground equipment at its existing network stations, and would support the system's operations.

Weather information would be provided to general aviation (GA) via the XM WX Satellite Weather's service already used by many pilots across the U.S.

"The FAA asked industry to be innovative in its approach to the ADS-B challenge so that the government could enjoy earlier and increased user benefits as well as reduced investment," said Andy Zogg, vice president of Raytheon's airspace management and homeland security business.

"The Raytheon team solution uses a single frequency that is becoming the standard around the world as opposed to utilizing two different frequencies, one for commercial aircraft [1090 MHz Mode S (select) ES (extended squitter)], and another for general aviation [UAT (universal access transceiver)]," said Mr. Zogg.

Europe has chosen 1090 MHz as the primary physical layer for ADS-B for both commercial - mainly airline - aircraft and GA, including business aviation.  FIS-B (flight information services - broadcast), which would provide weather and other non-control aeronautical and traffic information, primarily to GA aircraft, is not supported by 1090 ES.

"With the Raytheon solution, not only does the government benefit, but the user community benefits as well," said Mr. Zogg. "The Raytheon team approach is cost effective and ultimately safer for everyone."

Sun Microsystems would provide commercial-off-the-shelf hardware and software to support the information infrastructure required by the program, and Intelligent Automation would help with air space modeling and simulation, as well as systems engineering.

Booz Allen Hamilton is working with Raytheon to develop the business case.

See "Comments: 'Performance-Based' Contracting Bringing Change," for related background information.  03-10-2007.

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