Grant For Research NNC16AA02A

This federal contract award is for the design, development, fabrication, and testing of a C2 SATCOM system for use on public-use aircraft. The $2,444,006.33 grant was awarded by NASA's Glenn Research Center to Honeywell International Inc.'s Aerospace Golden Valley (Advanced Technology) division.

The C2 SATCOM system is being developed to operate within Ku and Ka-band frequencies as designated by the ITU-R WRC-2015 for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) communication. The effort includes major milestones such as trade studies, system specification development, design reviews, prototype fabrication, and flight testing to validate the system's performance. While a Supplemental Type Certificate is not required, the system is being developed under a certified radio process. Honeywell is required to deliver three sets of prototype transceivers and antennas, provide satellite time for ground and flight testing, and support data analysis and reporting. The partner will also contribute to the development of RTCA SC-228 standards for UAS SATCOM operations.

This grant does not have a set-aside designation. Honeywell, a large aerospace manufacturer, is the prime contractor with no major subcontractors mentioned. The project aligns with NASA's UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SATELLITE COMMUNICATION (SATCOM) major program.