Attachment 1_Salient Characteristics.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

PENNSYLVANIA AIR NATIONAL GUARD

171ST AIR REFUELING WING

CORAOPOLIS PENNSYLVANIA

8 September 2025

The following salient characteristics are required to meet the needs of this requirement:

The system must support Mobile Ad Hoc Networking (MANET) operations and be interoperable with existing Government communication infrastructure.

Initial functionality will be limited to radio transmissions only. Future expansion will be coordinated by Maintenance, Communications, and the vendor selected, adhering to all applicable guidance and regulations.

Tactical Operations Center (TOC): This section details the hardware required for establishing a stationary TOC as part of the ad-hoc mesh network.

• Mesh Network Radio Unit with Integrated Battery (1 unit) o Software-defined radio capable of operating in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands o Must support ad-hoc mesh networking protocols and include an integrated, hot-swappable battery o Radio shall meet MIL-STD-810G for shock, vibration, and temperature

• High-Gain Sector Antenna (1 unit) o 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz o Must be a common and well-established beamwidth o Weather-resistance shall be IP67 or better

• Ruggedized Laptop with Mesh Network Management Software (1 unit) o Laptop shall meet MIL-STD-810G standards with a minimum IP65 rating o Must include pre-installed and configured software for monitoring and managing the mesh network

• Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) (1 unit) o Shall provide a minimum of 2 hours of runtime for the laptop and radio unit

• External GPS Receiver - USB or Ethernet (1 unit) o Shall provide accurate location data to the network. Must be compatible with the mesh network radio unit and laptop

• Tactical Headset with Noise Cancellation and PTT (1 unit) o Ruggedized tactical headset with noise cancellation, a push-to-talk (PTT) button, and compatibility with the mesh network radio unit

• Ethernet Switch - Ruggedized, 8-Port (1 unit) o Shall have a minimum of 8 ports and meet MIL-STD-810G standards

• Ruggedized External Hard Drive, 1TB (1 unit) o Shall meet MIL-STD-810G standards for data logging and storage

• Internet Connectivity Modules (1 unit) o Module A: Cellular Modem with External Antenna

Shall support 4G LTE or 5G, with an external antenna for improved signal strength

Must be compatible with local cellular networks and include a SIM card slot o Module B: Satellite Terminal (e.g., Starlink, Iridium)

Must provide internet access via a satellite network Must include all necessary hardware (modem, antenna, cables) and be compatible with the chosen satellite service o Module C: Commercial Internet Interface

Interface shall connect to existing commercial internet service via Ethernet (RJ45).

This is for use if the TOC location has pre-existing internet service

• Wi-Fi Access Point, Ruggedized (1 unit) o Shall provide local wireless internet access within the TOC o Must support the latest Wi-Fi standards (e.g., Wi-Fi 6) and shall be weather-resistant

Ancillary Network Center (ANC) (Alternate TOC): This section details the hardware required for establishing an Ancillary Network Center as part of the ad-hoc mesh network.

• Mesh Network Radio Unit with Integrated Battery (1 unit) o Software-defined radio capable of operating in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

o Must support ad-hoc mesh networking protocols and include an integrated, hot-swappable battery o Shall meet MIL-STD-810G for shock, vibration, and temperature

• High-Gain Omnidirectional Antenna (1 unit) o Must provide coverage in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands o Weather-resistance shall be IP67 or better

• Ruggedized Tablet with Mesh Network Monitoring App (1 unit) o Tablet shall meet MIL-STD-810G standards with a minimum IP65 rating o Must include a pre-installed and configured app for monitoring the mesh network

• Portable Solar Charger (1 unit) o Shall be capable of recharging the mesh network radio unit's battery o Must be lightweight and foldable

• External GPS Receiver: Bluetooth (1 unit) o Must provide accurate location data to the network via Bluetooth o Must be a ruggedized tactical headset with noise cancellation, a push-to-talk (PTT) button, and shall be compatible with the mesh network radio unit

• Waterproof Carrying Case (1 unit) o Carrying Case shall be made from waterproof and durable materials

Portable Dismount Kits: This section details the hardware required for each of the four portable dismount kits.

• Mesh Network Radio Unit with Integrated Battery (4 units) o Software-defined radio shall be capable of operating in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands o Must support ad-hoc mesh networking protocols and include an integrated, hot-swappable o Must be small and lightweight

• Low-Profile Antenna (4 units) o Compact antenna must provide coverage in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands o Must be designed for dismounted operations

• Tactical Headset with Noise Cancellation and PTT (4 units)

• Smartphone with Ruggedized Case and Secure Communications App (4 units) o Smartphone with a ruggedized case (MIL-STD-810G) and a pre-installed secure communications app that is compatible with the mesh network

• External Battery Pack (4 units) o External battery pack for extending the smartphone's battery life

• MOLLE-Compatible Radio Pouch o Radio pouch designed for attachment to MOLLE webbing.

• Spare Battery for Radio Unit (4 units) o Additional hot-swappable battery for the mesh network radio unit

Vehicle Deployment Kit: This section details the hardware required for the vehicle deployment kit

• Mesh Network Radio Unit with Integrated Battery (1 unit) o Software-defined radio capable of operating in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

o Must support ad-hoc mesh networking protocols and include an integrated, hot-swappable

• External High-Gain Antenna with Magnetic Mount (1 unit) o Shall provide coverage in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands o Shall include a magnetic mount for easy vehicle installation

• Vehicle Power Adapter, 12V/24V to USB-C (1 unit) o Power adapter converting vehicle power to USB-C for charging the radio unit and other devices

• Ruggedized Tablet with Vehicle Mount and Pre-configured Mesh Network Mapping Software (1 unit) o Tablet shall meet MIL-STD-810G standards o Must include vehicle mount and pre-installed mapping software that is compatible with the mesh network

• External GPS Receiver, USB (1 unit) o Shall provide accurate location data to the network via USB

• Ethernet Cable (1 unit) o Ruggedized Ethernet cable o 10 feet in length o Shall meet MIL-STD-810G standards

Range Extending Antennae:

• High-Gain Directional Antenna (2 units) o Shall provide extended range in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands o Must be weather-resistant (IP67 or better)

• Tripod Mount (2 units) o Shall be a lightweight and adjustable tripod mount for the directional antenna

• Coaxial Cable (2 units) o 50-foot low-loss coaxial cable for connecting the antenna to the radio unit

Additional Considerations:

• Software: The mesh network protocol must be open and documented to allow for integration with various software platforms. Specify required features such as automatic node discovery, self-healing, and quality of service (QoS) management.

• Interoperability: Vendors must demonstrate interoperability with existing communication systems.

• Security: The system must provide robust security features, including encryption and authentication, to protect against unauthorized access and eavesdropping.

• Power Management: Emphasis should be placed on efficient power consumption and the ability to operate from various power sources (e.g., solar, vehicle power, batteries).

• Warranty: All hardware components must be covered by a minimum one-year warranty.

• Spares: A list of recommended spare parts should be included to ensure continued operation in austere environments.

• Standards Compliance: All equipment must comply with relevant industry standards for safety, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and environmental protection (e.g., FCC, CE, MIL-STD-810G).

Delivery & Support:

• All components must be new and commercially available off-the-shelf

• Deliverables must include manuals, installation guides, API documentation, quick-start guides, warranty information

• Training sessions and technical support

• Lifetime Firmware & Software Updates