Lt. Col. (USAF) of the Rover team explains the key role of Rover in the "democratization of the battlefield. The Rover system has evolved from video downlink into an interactive system. It allows the ground and air forces to operate significantly differently in what Secretary Wynne called close combat support.

1. Remotely Operated
Video Enhanced
Receiver Capabilities
Brief
A2Q ISR Innovations
Lt Col Chuck Menza
Charles.menza@pentagon.af.mil
Rover@pentagon.af.mil
703.693.3980 1

2. Disclaimer
This briefing/presentation is for
information only. No U.S. Government
commitment to sell, loan, lease, co-
develop or co-produce these defense
articles or services is implied or intended
2

3. Wartime Innovations
4 Days to test - 4 Weeks to combat
3

4. ROVER
Program Description/Overview
What: ROVER provides Full Motion Video (FMV) from an
airborne platform to ground users via airborne, mobile, fixed, or
man-portable terminals
How: Airborne platform transmit signal containing FMV to ground
user who use multi-band ROVER receiver connected to display
(laptop or analog device) to view video and/or telemetry
Why: Provides real time information allowing personnel to target
from video, request close air support, directing aircrew to adjust aim
to put bombs on target, provides flexibility, captures / records video,
provides aircraft location/coordinates for orientation, etc…
How Being Used Today Interoperability (list not all inclusive)
Predator Liberty
Litening Pod P3
Swift Pointer
Tern AC-130
Shadow Pioneer
Scathe View Raven
Dragon Eye Fire Scout
SNIPER Pod
Mako / Tigershark
Scan Eagle
Hunter Strike Killer Team
5

5. What is ROVER?
• Remote Operated Video Enhanced Receiver
– Air Force answer to receive full motion video (FMV)
• ROVER uses line of sight video downlink from a
Varity of airborne platforms
– Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and Advanced
Targeting Pods (ATP) – manned platforms
– Unencrypted and encrypted - Analog and digital
– Bidirectional and IP (coming soon)
Managed by ISR Innovations Office (A2Q) and
Big Safari - QRC
6

6. What is ROVER - NOT?
• Not a Program of Record
• Spiral developed over 8 years
– Feedback from the Customer
– Input from “Big Vision” People
• Has not gone thru JROC
• Or JCIDS
• Not JTIC Certified
• Not sure if it is JTRS Certified
• Most request capability in the AOR
• ….JTACS like it
7

7. First ROVER II
A Pretty Neat Story:
On 17 Jan 02, CW2 Chris Manuel (Army Green Beret) pictured above, dropped in unannounced to visit 645
AESG. He said he’d spent the past 3 months looking in caves in Afghanistan, had 2 weeks off, and then
was to return to do the same. He said his unit desperately needed access to Predator video to enable them
to “see what was over the next hill” before putting his people at risk. Key players were assembled, the
requirement was discussed with the contractor, and a solution was developed that day, right in the Big Safari
office. Eight days later (23 Jan 02) the solution - shown above - was demonstrated at the Predator test
facility at El Mirage. CW2 Manual deployed back to Afghanistan to put the ROVER into operations. The
ROVER was credited multiple times for saving the lives of his unit and assisting in the killing or capture of
enemy combatants.

8. Factors Influencing ROVER Design
Compatibility
- Across the services ROVER Family
-With DHS Tac ROVER and ROVER 4
Transmit Net ROVER
- Net-T ROVER5 & 6
C2 ROVER
Encryption
-Type-1 All ROVERs have various
-AES levels of encryption
-TDES
Size
Weight 9

9. L-3 Communications Proprietary
ROVER Evolution
ROVER 4 & CMDL ROVER 5
Predecessors
ROVER 5
• Multi-band Capability
• AES Encryption • Portable Handheld
• Type 1 Encryption
C2 ROVER • International Version
(2012)
VORTEX
• Type 1 Encryption
• BE-CDL Waveform
• DDL Raven Receive • Type 1 Encryption
• Dual Link - Relay • Multi-band Capability
ROVER 6
Tactical ROVER SIR • Type 1 Encryption
• Receiver Only • BE-CDL Waveform
•AES Decryption • Soldier Wearable ISR • DDL Raven Receive
• ROVER 5 Waveforms • AES Decryption • MIL-STD Connectors
• Environmentally Ruggedized

10. ROVER
Compatibility/Interoperability
Predator
SNIPER Pod
Litening
Pod
P3
Raven
Pioneer
Pointer
AC-130
Shadow
Hunter
Fire Scout
Scathe View
Liberty/MC-12

11. Waveform Interoperability
12

12. Interoperability Challenge
Dept of Homeland Security
• Interoperability has been an elusive capability
• Law Enforcement and Military have gone on
divergent paths for ISR/IAA
• Homeland Security/Defense and National
Disaster Response have illuminated both need
and capability gaps
• New modem technology offers interoperable
solutions, opportunities for convergence
Lessons learned from 9/11, Katrina, Cal Wild fires, Haiti, Oil Spills

13. L-3 Communications Proprietary
Remote Operations Video Enhanced Receiver
(ROVER) 3/e/4
• Revolutionized Ground Warfare by Bringing ISR Data to
Ground Troops
• Capabilities
– Receiver
– Frequency Bands – C/L/S/Ku
– Waveforms Supported
– CDL, Tactical, Analog, DDL
– Encryption – AES / TDES
– Operating Temp -20°C to +70°C
– 10.25 lbs with Battery
• Status
– ROVER 3 – 2004, 469 Delivered
– eROVER – 2006, 1,309 Delivered
– ROVER 4 – 2007, 1,627 Delivered;
– ROVER 4 Ease of Use Due 3/31/2011
– Production Line Ramping Down

14. L-3 Communications Proprietary
ROVER 5
Capabilities Status
• Menu-Driven Touch Screen • Capabilities Being Exploited in
Theatre
• Tactical White-boarding
• Net-T Targeted Device
• Type 1-1 / AES / TDES Approved
• Production Line Ramping Down
• Five Band Transceiver – UHF/C/Ku/L/S
• Waveforms Supported
– CDL, Tactical, VNW, Analog
• Data Rates up to 44.73 Mbps
• SWAP
– 9.5” x 5.6” x 2.25”
– Multiple Power and Battery Options
– Weight – 3.5 lbs

15. L-3 Communications Proprietary
Video ORiented Transceiver for EXchange
(VORTEX)
Capabilities Status
• Type 1-1 / AES / TDES Approved • Flight Qualification Complete on
• Five Band Transceiver – UHF/C/Ku/L/S Several Platforms – Both Fixed
• Waveforms Supported and Rotary Wing
– CDL, Tactical, VNW, Analog
• Data Rates up to 44.73 Mbps
• Spatial / Frequency Diversity
• EMI/EMC 461E Compliant
• SWAP
– 4.75” X 3.7” X 8.6”
– Nominal 45 W, 9 – 32 VDC
– Weight – < 10 lbs
Predator Kiowa

16. L-3 Communications Proprietary
ROVER 6
Capabilities
• Type 1-1 / AES / TDES Approved Status
• Five Band Transceiver – UHF/C/Ku/L/S • Development Complete
• Waveforms Supported • LRIP of 300 Systems
– CDL, Tactical, VNW, Analog, BE-CDL, • FRP of ~2,500 Systems
DDL • Developing Ku-Band
• Data Rates up to 44.73 Mbps Directional Antenna
• Spatial / Frequency Diversity • Developing L/S Transmit and
• EMI/EMC 461E Compliant C/L/S Receive Antenna
• SWAP
– 6.25” x10.98” 3.80”
– 10VDC to 32VDC Input
– Weight – < 10 lbs
PM UAS Apache MUMT-2 New Antennas Under Development

17. L-3 Communications Proprietary – Information on this page is subject to the restrictions on the first page.
Tactical ROVER
SIR v2.0 Tactical ROVER
• Contract Award 7/22/2010 • Features Same as SIR 2.0
• Delivered 73; 47 On Order • Contract Award 10/19/2010
• Receiver • Battery Powered
• Frequency Bands – C/L/S • Weight – 1.1 lbs w/o battery
• Ku-Band Downconverter and • In production now
Antenna; Due 8/31/2011; 6 On
Order
• Waveforms Supported
• CDL, Tactical, VNW, Analog
• Encryption – AES/ TDES
• Weight – < 1 lbs
• Auto Acquire
• Production Line Ramping Down

18. L-3 Communications Proprietary – Information on this page is subject to the restrictions on the first page.
C2 ROVER
• Compact, Highly-Capable, Multi-Use • Status
– Contract Negotiated
Transceiver
– 8 Deliverable Prototypes
• Capabilities
– Two Independent Bi-Directional Links
– Full Link Interconnectivity
– Relay
– Transceiver
– Frequency Bands – C/L/S/Ku/UHF
– Waveforms Supported
– CDL, Tactical, VNW, Analog, BE-CDL, DDL
– Data Rates up to 44.73 Mbps
– Encryption – Type 1-1 / AES / TDES
– Operating Temp -20°C to +70°C w/cold plate
– 10+ lbs
– BE-CDL
– Spatial / Frequency Diversity
– EMI/EMC 461E Compliant

19. ROVER Metadata
• Lots of attention being focused on metadata over
the past few years. There are lots of formats out
there, but two main standards:
– Key-Length-Value (KLV)
• Controlled by MISB (Motion Imagery Standards Board)
– Cursor on Target (CoT)
• Controlled by MITRE
• ROVER supports and encourages KLV metadata
over the link
– ROVER 4s delivered with KLV capability
– ROVER IIIs/eROVERs receive KLV capability with software
upgrade
• L3 working on KLV to CoT translator application that
runs on ROVER

20. FMV
FalconView
Google Earth
ROVER

21. Lessons RE-Learned from 9/11,
Katrina, Cal Wild fires, Haiti, Oil Spills

22. ROVER BLOS Dissemination
25

23. Digital Encryption
• OSD will mandate a migration to digital
waveforms – with eventual encryption of FMV
– Interim solution TDES or AES
– Follow-up with NSA Type 1
• ROVER 5 capability includes Type 1
• ROVER 4 has TDES
• Common RVT with USAF/ARMY/MARINES – USIP
1 standards
– Air
– Mobile
– Fixed
26

24. ROVER IP Network Capability Using
Net-T Software
ROVER 5/5i
CMDL
VORTEX
Current Radios

25. Using Today’s Technology – Today!
• Objective/Motivation - Provide a full duplex, IP
based network capability to the tactical edge
using existing infrastructure to support
Information Dominance missions
– QRC Capability - Establish ROVER as an IP Network
node (RIPN) using Net-T software
• Complementary and interoperable with any IP
architecture
– HAF A2Q is NOT offering a 100% solution -
plenty of room for many other technologies

26. Net-T Main Points
• Gov’t-owned-standard software load for existing and
programmed radios – non proprietary
• Securable using both Type 1 and AES
• Backwards compatible with existing ROVERs
• Multiband (C,L,S,Ku) - not limited to a single band
• Wideband - up to 44 Mbps with the Vortex
Using today's technology - today

27. What’s coming up next
Tac ROVER
Analog
Antenna
Thales Harris
USB

28. Antenna Overview
ROVER
Ku
Ku-Band ROVER L/S/C
L/S/C
UHF Down converter
SIR v2.5 ROVER 4

29. Tactical ROVER-e “Kit”
(Tentative)
 SIR v2.5 Kit
 Radio
 Operator Manual
 Multi-Band Tactical Antenna (L/S/C-Band)
 Cable Set
 Power
 Power & Ethernet
 Power & USB
 Power cables
 BA5590
 Flying Leads
 Brites
 BNC Video
 RF
 Vuzix Tactical display
 Plus Ku Band Down Converter
&
 Includes Cap Antenna

30. Cable Set (Proposed)
Power/Connector Power/Ethernet Connector Power/USB Connector
BA5590 Battery Cable Flying Lead DC Power Cable BRITES Power Cable
Identical to SIRv2.5 – Full backward compatibility

31. Preliminary Connector Layout
Battery
Connector
Antenna Port
(TNC)
10 Pin Keyfill
Bayonet 26 Pin
Video Out
“Mighty Mouse”
(BNC)
Power & I/O

32. Preliminary Radio – Front View
Power
LCD Button/Standby
ESC
Backlight
5 Way
COMSEC
Navigation
BYPASS KEYS
Pad
Decimal Point
12 Key Alpha
Numeric Keypad
Keypad Lock
ZEROIZE KEYS

33. Preliminary Radio – Back View
COMSEC
Label
COMSEC
Not Installed
Label

34. Preliminary Radio Assembly
Keypad/Display Cover
RF Card
Septum
Digital Card
Rear Cover
COMSEC Module
COMSEC Cover

35. SWaP Comparison (Size)
SIR v2.5 Tactical ROVER-e (estimate)
Dimensions 5.6 x 3.0 x 1.5 6.52 x 2.7 x 1.82
Cubic Inches 25.2 29.2
2.7 1.82
1.5 3.0
6.52
5.6
1.6

36. SWaP Comparison (Weight)
SIR v2.5 Tactical ROVER-e
(estimate)
With battery (lbs) 1.9 2.3
• Tactical ROVER-e estimate is slightly heavier
due to:
– COMSEC module
– Housing the COMSEC
– Additional connector and room to house the
connector
– Volume increase to fit components on CCA’s
– Isolation walls

37. Fielded ROVERs
ROVER I: (Pred to AC-130) ROVER II: (Aircraft to JTAC) ROVER III – Multi-band receiver C/L/KU
Total Delivery – 20 Total Delivery 147 Total Delivery 2331
C/L Band
KU Band
ToughBoo
k
Receiver
ROVER V ROVER 6
FRP
On Order 900 UHF
ROVER IV + UHF= Antenna / 7000 on order
ROVER IV Army OSRVT (2000+) Modem
Total Delivered
1400 Total ROVER: 7241

38. ROVER
Revolutionizes the Battlefield
Over 14 NATO and ISAF countries use ROVER
– UK France Australia Germany
– Norway New Zealand Canada Portugal
– Italy Spain Sweden Belgium
– Netherlands
85% of CAS mission done
with ROVER in OIF
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