US Army unveils test plan for TRILOS modernisation

Multichannel transmission systems operator-maintainers from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, assemble a Terrestrial Transmission Line Of Sight radio system at Fort Stewart in Georgia in August 2019. (US Army )

US Army officials are soliciting industry feedback on the service's technology development strategy to revamp its Terrestrial Transmission Line of Sight (TRILOS) communications equipment, with plans to acquire two to three new TRILOS variants beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2026.

Led by Program Manager Tactical Network (PM TN), the 3 May request for information (RFI) will inform development of the new TRILOS variants.

The variants will feature a radio frequency (RF) base system, “with modular extensions incorporating Free Space Optics (FSO)” to connect with aerial tier assets via a “variable height, mast type configuration”, the 3 May RFI stated. Army officials plan to acquire over 700 modernised TRILOS systems.

To that end, army officials are specifically seeking industry input “regarding capabilities of modern Line of Sight (LOS) Backhaul communications equipment that can modernize and enhance current TRILOS capabilities”, the officials wrote in the RFI. Potential industry solutions must also incorporate interoperability requirements with the AN/GRC-262, the current TRILOS radio for the army and the US Marine Corps, for both over-the-air and networked connectivity, the solicitation stated.

“This new capability will increase transmission diversity of an IP [internet protocol]-based architecture to maximise communications flexibility between existing terrestrial radios and create efficiencies in the network for military operations”, army officials stated. Army officials anticipate carrying out field tests of industry prototypes for TRILOS modernisation in October 2024 at Fort Huachuca in Arizona.