Thales’s TMA 6000 Wideband Airborne Datalink Terminal Obtains US Certification

Thales announces the STANAG 7085 certification of its TMA 6000 wideband airborne datalink terminal by the Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC), making the TMA 6000 the first European terminal of its kind to obtain certification in the United States. The TMA 6000 has now officially demonstrated its capacity to transmit all types of data (navigation, video, images) to the US-made manpack terminals in service with NATO ground forces.

The TMA 6000 provides high-speed datalink transmissions between airborne systems and units on the ground, a capability that is key to effective air support of land forces on military operations.

“We are delighted to have obtained this certification, which confirms the interoperability of theTMA 6000 with the terminals developed in the United States. Armed forces now have the assurance that aircraft equipped with this latest-generation terminal will have a wideband datalink capability that is compatible with all the equipment deployed on the ground,” said Patrice Caine, VP for Thales’s Radio Communication Products business. “Recent operations in Afghanistan, with complex terrain and civilian populations in close proximity, have underscored the importance of having reliable access to extremely accurate information to protect forces on the ground while avoiding collateral damage. With the TMA 6000, which supports real-time transmission of tactical data and video streaming from airborne sensors, we have developed an effective response to this critical requirement.”

Operating in Ku band, the TMA 6000 airborne datalink terminal transmits sensor data at very high data rates. It is suitable for most types of aircraft, including UAVs, mission aircraft, combat aircraft, reconnaissance and laser targeting pods, and helicopters. Several data encryption options are available using either a built-in encryptor or an external encryption system.