New Software Defined Radio for U.S. Navy is 25% the Size of DMR

General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) has launched the Badger Software-Defined Radio (SDR), a compact, 2-channel SDR designed to provide multiple independent levels of security for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore voice and data communications. 

At a quarter of the size of the Digital Modular Radio (DMR) from GDMS, Badger’s software-defined, flexible open architecture enables future next-generation communications including waveforms, encryption algorithms and advanced network connectivity to be easily incorporated without redesign. 

This approach allows new features and functions to be added to the radio in the field without having to take it out of service, resulting in significant time and cost savings. 

It is the only radio available that provides High Frequency (HF), Very High Frequency (VHF), Ultra High Frequency (UHF) and SATCOM Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) waveform capability. The integration of MUOS significantly enhances beyond line-of-sight, or satellite voice and data communications.

In addition, Badger’s Voice over IP (VoIP) audio capability modernizes and simplifies platform audio distribution using network connectivity.

“The Badger was developed in collaboration with our customer to meet their requirements for smaller ships and platforms,“ said Stan Kordana, Vice President of Surface Systems at General Dynamics Mission Systems. 

“Badger offers many of the same capabilities that have made DMR a communications standard for the U.S. Navy, in a much smaller form factor. The reduced size, weight and power make it ideal for smaller platforms across multiple domains that only require two channels, and at the same time simplifies logistics and reduces costs.”

The Badger has programmable embedded NSA certified Type 1 encryption that secures communications and simplifies the system architecture. It has MILS capability which enables it to communicate simultaneously at multiple levels of security, on each of the radio’s two channels.