Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division has introduced the PacStar® 465, a new, multi-modem hybrid communications gateway module that allows joint users to communicate via secure military and commercial networks. The PacStar 465, the newest addition to Curtiss-Wright’s premier line of PacStar 400-Series of tactical communications solutions, provides network transport diversity to support United States Department of Defense (DOD) Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control (CJAD2) initiatives for sharing of data in disparate environments. The module is powered by HybridComm™ from Fairwinds Technologies.
Network transport diversity enables users to reliably and securely communicate over a mix of both trusted (secure military communications systems) and untrusted (commercial networks, public internet, or foreign-controlled) networks. The compact, rugged module serves as a mobile gateway for communications reliability. It features the flexibility needed to securely communicate in extremely diverse conditions, including austere denied, degraded, intermittent, and limited (DDIL) environments. The PacStar 465 is ideal for use in software-defined wide area networks (SD-WAN) and provides transport diversity for WAN/backhaul applications.
The PacStar 465 implements Auto-PACE (Automatic Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency)-based transport diversity, can securely share sensitive data over in-country wireless infrastructure, camouflaging it with native traffic. It can also operate without requiring a cloud management platform, which may be forbidden in many types of deployments.
“We are proud to introduce our new hybrid communications gateway module,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Division. “The dual-modem PacStar 465 offers military and intelligence community end-users a single PacStar 400-Series module solution for secure communications over any combination of trusted and untrusted networks.”
The PacStar 465 supports black network transport bonding, a method of securely aggregating multiple network connections to create a secure data fabric. To optimize mission success and operational resilience, the module is able to automatically combine multiple network types so users can maintain effective communications regardless of environmental, infrastructural, or adversarial challenges.
The module includes two cellular modems, which support 5G for maximum throughput, 4G LTE fallback for compatibility worldwide, with options for 3G compatibility for use in regions with legacy infrastructure. It merges a wide range of network transports, including legacy military communications, wireless WAN, and 4G/5G for increased bandwidth and reliability. The PacStar 465 incorporates SD-WAN aggregation devices that bond managed and unmanaged SATCOM, terrestrial public and private 4G/5G, as well as emerging 5G and 6G space-based networks. It integrates bonded, multi-channel cellular LTE, Wi-Fi, fixed line, military and commercial satellite, GPS, and land mobile radio (LMR) extension capabilities with built-in LTE, and Wi-Fi to provide transport diversity.
“HybridComm delivers secure, resilient connectivity to joint warfighters in any operational environment,” said Jim Sprungle, CEO for Fairwinds Technologies. “The platform combines multi-network transport diversity with advanced data camouflage capabilities, ensuring joint forces can communicate effectively even in denied or contested environments, while remaining undetected. This integration with the widely-deployed PacStar 400-Series brings mission-critical CJADC2 capabilities directly to the tactical edge, where our warfighters need them most.”
The flexible module supports the use of industry-standard SIM cards or can operate like a native network user with multiple deployment options and enhanced, network managed software packages designed for the unique needs of military and intelligence community end-users. The PacStar 465 supports Fairwinds Technologies HybridComm CrossLink™ to bond the bandwidth of multiple WAN connections and sustain the fast data links required by demanding, latency-sensitive applications when connected to wireless WAN or commercial low earth orbit (LEO) networks (e.g., Starlink™). It also supports advanced deployment options, including Fairwinds Technologies HybridComm ShawdowLink™. ShadowlLink enables enhanced data camouflage for blending data into untrusted, regional network traffic flows, making it difficult to distinguish between the protected data and the overall network traffic.
The module also includes full Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) functionality that can be disabled by the user when required.