Fortress Technologies launches high performance secure wireless mesh infrastructure platform

Fortress Technologies, a supplier of secure tactical wireless communications, announced on March 29 the release of the ES2440, its next generation secure wireless mesh point with groundbreaking performance for tactical wireless deployment.

The ES2440 is a high performance, high capacity, multi-radio mesh point that enables local access as well as area coverage using Fortress' FastPath Mesh technology. With the proliferation of wireless communications in the public sector, particularly to in-theater military scenarios, the information sharing effectiveness has been enhanced by solutions like the ES2440 that provide broader real-time access to data for situational awareness, force management and logistical support.

"This is an excellent example of a company taking a mature and proven wireless technology and enhancing it to deliver better mission capability for many tactical applications," said Brad Curran, aerospace and defense industry analyst for Frost & Sullivan. "COTS migration is important to deliver advanced C4ISR technology to the military, while dealing with program and budget scrutiny.  Fortress is clearly an innovative industry leader in this area."

The ES2440 Infrastructure Mesh Point is a quad radio wireless access device with the ability to provide multiple mesh links over long distances and with high performance network coverage in harsh outdoor environments. The Fortress product delivers DoD 8100.2 compliant 802.11i/WPA2, AES and IPSec FIPS 140-2 certified security that can be upgraded and accredited to NSA Suite B IPSEC, used for COTS for Secret level communications.

The ES2440 is designed to meet broad Milspec standards and has passed the highest level of environmental testing ensuring its ability to be used in severe conditions, says a press release issued by Fortress on March 29. The ES2440 with FastPath Mesh is optimized for dynamic mobile communications and bandwidth intensive applications, such as streaming video, and services the growing demand for intelligent devices connecting at the true tactical edge.

"Covering large areas of operation, and connecting efficiently to command centers, tactical assets, logistical centers, vehicles and dismounted soldiers to provide constant access to information is more important than ever in the field today," said Janet Kumpu, vice president of corporate development and marketing at Fortress. "Fortress has become the market expert in delivering mobile communication solutions to the tactical edge with high performance equipment that meets the level of ruggedization and information assurance demanded by the public sector to ensure safety of the mission."

The ES2440 has unique capabilities, including:

• Quad MIMO radios supporting 802.11 a/b/g/n;
• Hardware crypto FPGA with > gigabit speed inline encryption;
• Multiple radio options to support unlicensed 2.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz and licensed 4.4 GHz and 4.9GHz;
• Ability to support other technologies like WiMAX and Cellular radios.

Fortress and its partners have begun initial testing of the ES2440 for active programs where the deployment of high capacity wireless communications and security is central to the extension of the network.