EADS Astrium, PORTSMOUTH: EADS Astrium's Media Back-link Unit, which enables live broadcast-quality television transmissions from ships at sea has been successfully tested on HMS Cumberland at the start of a four-month operational trial.
The state-of-the-art Media Back-link Unit enhances the EADS Astrium TOMS (Television Over Military Satellites) system fitted to Royal Navy ships. Together they enable the Commanding Officer of a vessel to be interviewed live on television from the ship. The trial on board HMS Cumberland during her deployment to the western Atlantic and Caribbean is being supported by Paradigm Services which is providing additional military satellite capacity.
During HMS Cumberland's tour of duty she will be in a position to respond to calls for assistance during the hurricane season. Ships deployed to the Caribbean and western Atlantic also work in close cooperation with US and other national authorities in the war on drugs.
Royal Navy personnel from vessels on patrol are often the UK's first representatives in disaster areas or trouble spots providing vital assistance and support. The Royal Navy's contribution to humanitarian and disaster relief operations has, however, often been under-reported in a world which expects immediate, high quality picture news. The trials are demonstrating that any Royal Navy ship equipped with the system can have the capability to provide live broadcast-quality video from anywhere in the world. It is understood that the Royal Navy is delighted with the initial results.
The basic TOMS fit provides recreational television and news services for sailors on RN ships around the world, with programming by the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS). Paradigm Services, as part of its Skynet 5 contract, provides secure global satellite communications to the Royal Navy along with the rest of the UK's Armed Forces. TOMS is a simple and cost effective additional service to the EADS Astrium shipborne communications system (SCOT), with over 150 SCOT systems procured by 11 navies worldwide. The TOMS system has also undergone successful trials over existing UK Armed Forces land terminals.
EADS Astrium is Europe
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