In its search for a secure wireless networking solution, the FBI has discovered the many capabilities of the MPU5 radio system developed by Persistent Systems LLC. As a result, the FBI’s Operational Technology Div. has awarded Persistent with a multiple-award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract worth about $100 million, both for the MPU5 systems and their advanced mobile ad hoc network (MANET) technology. The mobile, portable MPU5 radios are based on software-defined-radio (SDR) technology and feature switchable frequency bands, courtesy of interchangeable front-end modules.
“This IDIQ contract will enable the FBI to deploy our latest MPU5 communication systems,” said Dr. Herbert Rubens, CEO of Persistent Systems. “We are confident that the MPU5 will set a new standard for performance, capability, and features found nowhere else in the industry, and we’re extremely proud to be one of the awardees chosen by the Department of Justice.”
The MPU5 radios enable self-forming and self-healing networks. To call the MPU5 simply a radio is a bit of an understatement, as it is actually a compact, battery-powered handheld computer based on the Android OS and data storage. It can run Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK) and other software programs, and features an HD video encoder/decoder to distribute real-time video feeds to team members as needed (see photo). As a radio, the MP5U offers 3 × 3 multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) functionality at L-, S-, or C-band frequencies (determined by choice of frequency module), with as much as 6 W transmit power to establish a secure IP network with data rates to 100 Mb/s.
“The MPU5’s vast set of capabilities really translates into enhanced situational awareness for the agents, increased mission success, and an overall enhancement in safety,” Rubens noted. “Additionally, the MPU5 provides an extremely cost-effective solution for the Bureau by incorporating so much capability into a single commercial item.”
