Broadband electronically-steerable array for mission security (BEAMS)

Technical solutions are needed to provide affordable, high-capacity wireless communications services to the US Navy (USN) by employing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technology that is Internet Protocol (IP) ready. There is a pressing need to extend battle space connectivity within a theater of operations, particularly for littoral and expeditionary warfare. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with lightweight communications relay packages can provide this extended range capability for networks of users. Phased array antennas, a complementary enabling technology, brings with it the additional major challenge of being tailored to and operating in a 'networked' environment.