Date:
23 Jan 2004
Time: 21:49
Boeing has delivered the 1000th Combat Survivor Evader Locator (CSEL) handheld radio unit. Operated by the US joint services, and now one step closer to operational readiness, CSEL is a combat survival system to enable the safe, efficient and timely recovery of downed pilots. The 1000th radio delivery marks a significant achievement for CSEL as the programme eventually transitions from the Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phase into full-rate production pending a favourable go-ahead decision by the U.S. government in March 2004. Approximately 4,000 LRIP radios will be produced under contract and delivered to the joint services by the end of 2004. Full-rate production quantities are expected to exceed 40,000 radios to help meet a crucial joint service requirement for secure data communications capability in support of combat search and rescue operations. “CSEL is the first military search and rescue system providing multi-satellite, over-the-horizon communications and the latest generation military Global Positioning System (GPS) module in a small, rugged, lightweight handheld radio,” said Boeing. “Historically, combat search and rescue missions have experienced low success rates due to limited situational awareness and precise positioning information. CSEL minimises the search aspect of a rescue mission by providing recovery forces with precise geopositioning information and secure, over-the-horizon, two-way data communications capability that enables joint search and rescue centres and recovery forces to locate, authenticate and communicate with isolated personnel in near real-time, anywhere in the world.” The CSEL system recently completed Multi-service Operational Test & Evaluation (MOT&E), the last in a series of tests that are part of a spiral development process aimed at identifying technical issues, implementing fixes and incorporating new capabilities before the system is fully fielded. Although final MOT&E results are pending, preliminary test findings have been positive and programme officials remain optimistic CSEL will be fielded on schedule.