Persistent Systems, a company specializing in mobile ad hoc network (MANET) technology, has been awarded a $1.3 million contract by the U.S. Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific. The contract involves the provision of MPU5 networking devices and Integrated Sector Antennas to support the Navy’s operations in coastal and nearshore environments.

The equipment will establish a secure network among unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), individual operators, ships, and ground control stations (GCSs). This network is expected to enhance situational awareness and streamline operations in littoral zones by consolidating data into a unified communications and command center.

Ed Leopold, Director of Business Development for the U.S. Navy at Persistent Systems, explained the advantages of this technology. “The integration of our Wave Relay® MANET technology with unmanned systems allows the Navy to access real-time data, including radar, sonar, and CBRNe information. This capability supports safer shore landings and maintains situational awareness on ships,” he said. Leopold also noted that the new system significantly improves over current procedures that require manual data retrieval from USVs.

Persistent Systems has been collaborating with the U.S. Navy for nearly five years, testing their MANET technology in various expeditionary warfare scenarios. This recent contract represents the largest investment by the Navy in USV-centric MANET technology to date.

The Wave Relay® MANET technology is already in use on various Navy platforms, including USVs, rigid inflatable boats (RIBs), and patrol boats. Future testing will involve scaling up the number of MANET nodes to enhance both Line of Sight (LOS) and Beyond LOS (BLOS) capabilities.

Earlier this year, Persistent Systems received a $3.6 million contract to integrate their MPU5 devices with Navy sensors. The Navy’s continued investment in these technologies highlights their confidence in Persistent Systems’ solutions for improving operational capabilities.