Joint Fires Solution Using Android Smartphone
The Canadian Army has selected a Rockwell Collins Android-based Joint Fires solution for its Digitally-Assisted Close Air Support (DACAS) system.

DACAS will digitally link aircraft and ground-based Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) via an Android smartphone, delivering a lightweight and user-friendly solution while maintaining full digital interoperability with a wide range of coalition aircraft and artillery systems.

Rockwell Collins will produce and service wearable 100 Android-based systems, with the potential for follow-on options and will qualify the initial systems by the summer of 2017. The agreement also includes an in-country service and support from Rockwell Collins in Canada for up to 10 years.

“Migrating away from hardware solutions to commercial off-the-shelf technology drives down cost and provides user-friendly and updatable platforms,” Lee Obst, Managing Director, Rockwell Collins for Canada, explained. “The Android joint-fires solution is a great example of leveraging cutting-edge technology for military purposes.”