The Marine Corps’ UH-1Y helicopter completed an initial flight to test the data transmission of the new Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) MILSATCOM capability for the MQ-25 Stingray at Pax River.
The team at the Dedicated Unmanned Carrier Aviation (UCA) Development Environment (DUDE) lab at Webster Outlying Field in St. Inigoes, Maryland, and the Communications Systems Integration Laboratory (CSIL) at Pax River, transmitted data using unique test equipment to the UH-1Y during flight, proving MOUS connectivity, resilience, and viability using a maneuvering aircraft.
MUOS is a SATCOM system that provides global connectivity to military networks. The next generation of this system works much faster and has additional payloads that support new waveform capabilities and compatibility with the legacy UHF satellite communications systems.
The MQ-25 Stingray will be the world’s first operational, carrier-based, unmanned aircraft that will provide aerial refueling as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities that will enhance the carrier air wing and carrier strike group.
“This type of testing is a way to show how two very different programs can team up and develop capabilities together.”
— Capt. Daniel Fucito, Unmanned Carrier Aviation (PMA-268) program manager
“Testing MUOS with H-1 will facilitate the MQ-25 test infrastructure development and ensure MUOS connectivity configuration It also provides an opportunity for the PMA-268 program team to observe MUOS flight characteristics.”
— Ray Belcher, MQ-25 Integrated Test Team communications lead