A developmental radio for a revolutionary Internet-Protocol tactical communications network has been delivered ahead of schedule to the U.S. Army AH-64D Integration Team. The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] team delivered a preliminary engineering development model radio with essential Link-16 functionality to the Airborne and Maritime Fixed Station Joint Tactical Radio System (AMF JTRS) Program Office. The AMF JTRS Program Office then provided the preliminary Joint Tactical Radio to the Apache Longbow AH-64D platform integration laboratory in Mesa, Arizona.

AMF JTRS is an Internet-Protocol network that through software defined radio technology, will connect a diverse range of radios and waveforms to provide joint forces with secure, real-time, interoperable communications.

“This delivery is a significant event in the future of the JTRS Enterprise as it represents the first opportunity for an aircraft program to begin working on software defined radio interfaces,” said Mark Norris, Vice President for Lockheed Martin’s Joint Tactical Network Solutions within IS&GS-Defense. “This delivery will allow a “walk before you run” approach for the AH-64D integration team before receiving the actual engineering development model in early 2011.”

To better prepare for the paradigm shift from stove-piped, legacy radios to the new world of software defined, multi-waveform, multi-channel, secure networking systems, the Lockheed Martin AMF JTRS engineering team has been working in unison with Boeing Apache AH-64D engineers for the past six months. The early delivery of this radio – which incorporates control software and essential Link 16 functions – allows the Apache integration team to begin integrating the Joint Tactical Radio command and control functions onto their platform architecture.

Having the preliminary engineering development model in the lab also allows the team to realize the next level of efficiencies, such as performing numerous networking, avionics and software checks, as well as preparing the physical configuration and infrastructure of the labs to accommodate the engineering development model and ancillaries.

The Lockheed Martin AMF JTRS team includes BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion.