Ultra Electronics tests new communications pod Published: Aug. 29, 2013 at 5:36 PM AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- A new communications pod for exchange of tactical information has been flight tested on a remotely piloted aircraft. The Tactical Airborne Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence Pod (TACPOD), made by Ultra Electronics Advanced Tactical Systems, is to provide tactical information exchange to tactical edge users of manned and unmanned aircraft. The TACPOD system is small in size and attaches to an aircraft with a standard weapon mount interface, It is also modular in design and scalable, with plug and play capability. "TACPOD fielding will provide a substantial capability for the warfighter to share meaningful information to the tactical edge," Ultra TACPOD Project Manager Bryan Jimenez said. This successful flight test series demonstrates the capability of TACPOD and its readiness for the next phase leading to fielding (with the armed forces). Ultra Electronics said flight testing by the U.S. government was conducted on U.S. Air Force aircraft and was the culmination of its development and production contract to support beyond line of sight command and control for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. The TACPOD system establishes a network that extends line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight communications for voice, video and data for forces throughout a battlefield.