Thales' Leadership Role in SDR Technology Honored

(March 25, 2008) -- Thales is pleased to announce that Lewis Johnston, Vice President for Advanced Programs, Thales Communications, Inc., and Christian Serra, Chief Engineer for Software Radio Architecture and Technologies at Thales' Land and Joint Systems Division in Paris, France, were honored as nominees for the prestigious Aviation Week Laureate Award for IT/Electronics.

In a ceremony held on March 4, 2008, Mr. Johnston and Mr. Serra were acknowledged for their key roles in the development of software-defined radio (SDR) solutions for warfighters worldwide.

Aviation Week recognized Thales for its "enviable reputation" as an industry leader of SDR and Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) technology. Thales Communications, the U.S. company that pioneered SDR technology, participates in all JTRS domains and is currently fielding the only JTRS-approved handheld radio to be developed under a U.S. Government program of record-the AN/PRC-148 JTRS Enhanced Multiband Inter/Intra Team Radio, or JEM. The AN/PRC-148, the smallest, lightest, and most widely-fielded tactical handheld radio in the world, is the cornerstone of a complete system solution for the warfighter providing advanced communication capabilities for mounted and dismounted operation.

Mr. Serra was cited for his role as chairman of the Software Defined Radio Forum (SDR Forum) from 2005 to 2007. The SDR Forum is a global organization in charge of promoting Software Radio concepts and technologies worldwide, addressing defense, commercial, homeland security, and regulatory domains. Thales is developing international software radio solutions, working on standards, system interoperability, and fielding FlexNet, a new SDR vehicular platform.

"Thales discovered early on that implementing greater functionality and features in our hardware products could best be done through software-driven and SDR platforms," said Lewis Johnston.

"The emergence of the U.S. Government's JTRS program provided us with a sanctioned roadmap for our own vision of SDRs for the tactical user."

Source : Thales

Recent News / Press releases from Thales

• Thales to Supply 2 Simulators for New Russian Training Centre [Aerospace] [Aviation] [ Fri 30 May 2008 ]
• Thales to Overhaul Radar Sensors on Canadian Naval Vessels [Defence] [ Wed 2 Apr 2008 ]
• Airtanker Signs 27 Year Air-to-air Refuelling Contract With UK MoD [Defence] [ Fri 28 Mrch 2008 ]
• FREMM Programme: Thales to Equip 4 Italian Frigates [Defence] [ Fri 28 Mrch 2008 ]
• Improved Version of Thales' Starstreak Succesfull [Defence] [ Thu 27 Mrch 2008 ]
• Thales' Leadership Role in SDR Technology Honored [Defence] [ Wed 26 Mrch 2008 ]
• Crotale Mk3 Demonstration Firings [ Thu 20 Mrch 2008 ]