Creating Lighter Loadouts for More Agile Warfighters
Summary
With REDCOM Sigma Client for ATAK, warfighters can shed weight and become more agile in their loadouts without compromising necessary tactical communication capabilities. Sigma Client for ATAK allows radio operators at the tactical edge to benefit from interoperable PTT comms in an intuitive, easy-to-use interface.
Challenges
Mobility
Warfighters and radio operators often carry multiple radios and batteries to communicate with necessary units and organizations. Combined, these can add over 50 pounds to the soldiers’ already heavy loadout. This weight adds fatigue to the soldiers, which limits their effectiveness in critical moments. Soldiers sacrifice food and water in their packs to make room for their radios and batteries.
Ease of Use
The current tactical communication methods require a thoroughly educated and trained radio operator. As easy as radio communication can be in theory, it can be challenging for soldiers not sufficiently trained to set up and use it. Every radio operates slightly differently and requires training for each manufacturer’s device.
Operational Flexibility
Another challenge warfighters can face is managing more radio nets than they have radios. This requires the operator to manually switch from one radio net to another, and you only have situational awareness on a single net per radio.
The Current Solution
Radio operators may distribute the weight amongst their team, reducing the burden on one soldier but adding unnecessary weight to all. The military is also adopting mesh radio networks with MANET radios, bringing TAK into the fold and allowing users more functionality and interoperability from their devices.
Neither of these current solutions is an effective fix and doesn’t eliminate the root problem: difficult-to-learn radio communication methods, inoperable devices, and heavier-than-needed loadouts.
The REDCOM Solution
Mobility
Warfighters and radio operators at the tactical edge can reduce the weight they carry in their loadout thanks to REDCOM’s Sigma Client software, especially when used for ATAK. By using Sigma Client for ATAK, warfighters no longer need to carry a Pelican case with eight or more radios and batteries, which combined can weigh up to 90 additional pounds. Depending on the length of the mission, all that is needed is an ATAK-enabled device (typically a mobile phone) along with and a charger or battery pack.
Ease of Use
The powerful Channels feature within Sigma Client for ATAK improves the flow of communication up and down echelons and across domains by intuitively and functionally grouping endpoints together. Voice channels can either be pre-configured by an admin or set up ad-hoc by the end user.
With Sigma Client for ATAK, your device also becomes a robust PTT client. The intuitive interface is easy to use and optimized for chaotic environments. New users can be trained on Sigma in hours or days — not weeks.
Operational Flexibility
Sigma provides unparalleled mission flexibility, converging all of your tactical comms onto a single ATAK-enabled device. You can set up as many channels as you need, monitor them all, and use its PTT feature to talk to anyone from one user interface. From covert operations and combat scenarios to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), Sigma streamlines communication methods, making its users more efficient, flexible, and adept in their jobs.
Conclusion
As militaries and organizations advance, they must adopt systems and tools that are easy to learn, make them more agile, and provide the utmost operational flexibility. REDCOM Sigma does just that. Warfighters, radio operators, and first responders can shed the excessive weight of their radios and converge all of their comms on Sigma’s lightweight and interoperable ATAK Client.
Where to Learn More about Sigma Client for ATAK
Visit our Sigma Client product page for more in-depth product information and details. If you would like to talk to a member of our team, fill out the form on our contact page or email us at sales@redcom.com.
