Operation Pacific Waves (OPW), a series of field exercises driven by partnerships comprising more than 20 organizations, was announced by Iridium Communications Inc. today. With an emphasis on the Indo-Pacific area, OPW will install Iridium and Iridium Connected equipment in real-world scenarios to demonstrate the robust, timely, and truly global capabilities of the Iridium network. Iridium partners and current customers like the U.S. Department of Defense, coalition partners, and scientific research organizations will coordinate a global contingent of organizations for a variety of SATCOM field demonstrations. Between Wednesday, September 28, and Friday, September 30, 2022, the event will take place.
The operational requirement for Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communications and mission leadership throughout a sizable Area of Responsibility is the focus of Operation Pacific Waves (AOR). It will highlight features made possible by Iridium’s Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services (EMSS) agreement with the US government that directly support mission sets in the Indo-Pacific (USG).
Unlimited narrowband subscribers and consumption across a safe USG gateway are provided by the EMSS contract.
Iridium Global Line of Sight service, enabling truly global real-time command and control (C2) for drones and autonomous vehicles, as well as Iridium Certus broadband and midband, Push-To-Talk (PTT), a variety of unattended sensors capable of tracking, environmental monitoring, remote control functions, and managing data and image delivery, are just a few of the cutting-edge technologies and capabilities highlighted. In-vehicle solutions and cutting-edge capabilities will also be highlighted, including real-time mobile 1080 HD video over L-band, telemedicine, search and rescue, and creating and maintaining an unified operational picture for military, civic, and NGO applications.
Multiple real-time audio, data, and video communications threads will be tested during the operation both while stationary and while moving. The main themes will center on the Indo-Pacific region and include Australia, Hawaii, the Philippines, and Japan, with some of them reaching as far as South Africa, Alaska, and Antarctica. Additional threads will be created with numerous websites in the United States and Canada, including those in Virginia, Arizona, Colorado, Ontario, and more, displaying a common operating picture (COP) in real time from every corner of the globe.
“As home to more than half of the world’s population, almost two-thirds of the world’s economy, and some of the world’s largest militaries, the importance of the Indo-Pacific region cannot be understated,” said Scott Scheimreif, executive vice president, government programs, Iridium. “It was a natural step to follow-up the success of Operation Arctic Lynx by exercising Iridium technology in the Indo-Pacific to showcase the Iridium network’s strength in providing real-time interoperability, communications-on-the-move, command-and-control, and developing and maintaining a common operational picture across a vast Area of Responsibility. We’re especially proud to have new and returning partners eager to participate.”
The Iridium network is the best choice for applications demanding mobility since it offers low-latency satellite communication using tiny form factor equipment. In order to guarantee the delivery of mission-critical communications for the Combatant Command and its subordinate component commands, its L-band spectrum provides a weather-resistant and highly reliable signal.
In the Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency (PACE) strategy and SATCOM architecture, Iridium and Iridium Connected devices play a crucial part.
References
Hassin, J. (2022, September 21). Iridium announces Operation Pacific Waves. Iridium Satellite Communications. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://investor.iridium.com/2022-09-21-Iridium-Announces-Operation-Pacific-Waves