Pathways to enlightenment: for any mission to be successful real-time situational awareness is must. Yet being overloaded with data is akin to having to carry too much equipment--it will only serve to slow progression and help to confuse the warfighter. Cohesive information dissemination requires network-centric systems that filter and format the data prior to distribution.

Senior defence leaders lobby for the creation of a global information grid to assist the warfighter in his or her hour of need, and there exists no argument to dispute its requirement. But with the assortment of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms operating at one time--satellites, drones, ground-based vehicles and personnel, robots and underwater assets, etc--storage databanks, filtering architectures and distribution channels are on the verge of overflowing.

The US government, for example, spends a disproportionate amount on data creation assets as compared with the infrastructure needed to process and distribute that information in a timely manner and at amounts consistent with the level served. But the winds of change have finally ruffled a few shirt collars.

Transformation

One solution to the data overflow problem will be the US Department of Defense's Transformational Communications Architecture (TCA), which is designed to create a communications network for intelligence agencies, space agencies and military services based on a single open architecture. Established in 2002, the TCA provides a long-term outlook for a transition to increased Internet Protocol (IP)-driven communications, which should improve battlefield awareness by passing time-critical targeting and ISR information to where it is needed most. The TCA will leverage a mixture of optical (laser) and RF communications, beginning with the JTRS architecture and the Milsatcom network, and culminate in an Internet-like communications structure between ground, sea-based, airborne and space platforms.

An increase in bandwidth and decrease in information packets are but a small, albeit critical, part of the solution: a single Global Hawk UAV uses around 500 Mbps of bandwidth when operating--this is equal to 500 per cent of the total bandwidth used by the entire US military during the 1991 Gulf War campaign. The problem is obvious.

In July of this year the Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman team announced the successful completion of a major system design review: the Tsat space segment programme. The Transformational Satellite (Tsat) project is the space-based segment that is undergoing a metamorphosis along with the TCA. The goal of the Tsat is to provide secure, wideband, beyond line-of-sight communications in support of battlefield network-centric operations, and will eventually replace the Milstar and Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) programmes. The Tsat is expected to provide a 28.5-Gbps transfer rate, which translates to a quantum leap in data transmissions compared to the AEHF's current 1.6 Gbps. The system will bring the Global Information Grid network extension to warfighters, sensors, weapons and C3 nodes located on drones, piloted aircraft units on the ground, at sea or in space.

DRS brings its Bmacs solution to the question of the vanishing bandwidth. The Bmac Quality of Service (Bmacs) system is an integrated design that uses pre-configured off-the-shelf computer and network interface hardware and the company's proprietary Bmacs software to manage dynamic bandwidth through real-time, prioritised and controlled allocation of Lan and Wan IP resources. The system allows the user to plan, allocate and re-allocate operational bandwidth in response to mission demands.

Stratellites, for Example

In what may seem to some as a technical digression, Sanswire Networks of Atlanta, Georgia, has recently launched its first stratellite, the Sanswire One, which is a 57-metre-long, solar-powered, high-altitude airship that rides just above the jet stream in the stratosphere (between 14.5 and 50 km above sea level) to provide a high-altitude geostationary platform for transmitting or relaying a variety of data types. Simply park a stratellite over an area of interest and one has a God's eye view of the battlefield, country and continent as well as a long-term network-centric asset for relaying remote sensing, surveillance and battlefield control information.

Other mobile platforms perform what are now considered 'traditional' communication relay operations, but the tidal wave of raw data must still be processed and disseminated.

In December 2004 an Elbit Systems team that includes Rafael and Tadiran Systems was awarded a $ 200 million contract for the creation and launching of Israel's Digital Army Program (Dap). Under the Dap contract, Elbit will supply the IDF with a variety of computerised hardware and software systems to facilitate data and imagery transmission to and from all levels of command through a battlefield, enabling force co-ordination and logistical management.

It is through programmes like the Dap that the time-critical information is distributed, but the actual data crunching and compositing requires operational systems such as Elbit's Integrative ISR Center (Ice). The Ice is an integrative multi-sensor exploitation system that is designed to input satellite, airborne, electro-optic, infrared or video signals and its complimentary intelligence information and translate this into useable reconnaissance information to be distributed to commanders and the warfighter.

Sometime later this year in the USA the Distributed Common Ground System (DGCS) will be online. The system is the ISR global network weapon system for the US Air Force and will provide an Internet-like, intelligence-sharing network-centric backbone across the US military services and defence agencies as they each design their own systems. Raytheon, the programme's prime contractor, is putting the finishing touches on the first system at the DCGS-Experimental site at Langley AFB in Virginia. The DGCS is poised to provide a fresh metamorphosis for the US military's exploitation and physical and electronic dissemination of ISR data.

The Raytheon-led team is working with the US Air Force to transform the current Tasking, Processing, Exploitation and Dissemination-based DCGS system into what it has labelled the Task, Post, Process and Use model.

Being Able to See

Changing the face of the information that is distributed is another deciding factor in whether that data is understandable and useable. The 'Godfather' of the GIS system, ESRI, provides what has become the benchmark in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). ArcGIS is an integrated suite of software products designed to integrate, manage, correlate, overlay, analyse and display geographic information, which is represented by a series of geographic datasets that model geography through generic data structures.

A geographic system usually consists of three significant elements: a geodatabase (or combination of databases) that interacts with geoprocessing models--very simply put, a set of information transformation tools that create an outline or flowchart of options on how the information can and will be stored, called upon and presented--and a geovisualisation set (maps and other views).

It is through these elements that battlespace data is collected, stored, retrieved and distributed to command, operational and tactical units in the battle scenario. Without a GIS infrastructure the sensor-to-shooter chain would still be relying on tactical radio communications, visual signals and the error-laden human factor to transfer information throughout the battlefield. And yet, as David Swann, ESRI Manager of International Business Development, explained, <<Despite the importance of GIS and its impact on the defence and intelligence communities--despite its ability to connect sensors to decision support centres and to serve this information to the warfighter as a cohesive and indispensable tool, many application developers still see maps and GIS information as an afterthought>>.

Sharing the stage with ESRI is Pyramid Vision--its TerraSight Production Suite providing real-time video exploitation for targeting and situational awareness. The TerraSight Production Suite was developed to transform real-time reconnaissance into distributable, useable information. The system processes video from aerial platforms--stabilising and synchronising the data and placing it into a geospatial context. This integrated information is then passed on to warfighters and commanders.

... and Hear

The collection and dissemination of data is not restricted to the realm of software and computers, radio communication and the information shared by those on the ground and in control centres plays a vital part in the management of data and operational and logistical orders.

With the 2010 bandwidth supply and demand ratio projected as being in a critical state, myriad projects are underway to address this Gordian knot.

The JTRS programme is but one project underway to alleviate the age-old requirement for the warfighter to carry an array of RF (radio frequency) and satellite devices in order to communicate with his unit(s), commander and allies.

A rather complicated joint effort that involves four US military services and the Special Operations Command, the Joint Tactical Radio System is designed to boost the supply of bandwidth for the lower tactical Internet. The Warfighter's Information Network-Tactical (Win-T), along with a new satellite terminal programme, is being developed to increase bandwidth supply of the upper end of the tactical Internet.

JTRS is envisioned to replace the US Army's current Sincgars, EPLRS and NTDR equipment with higher-capacity, multi-channel, software-defined digital equipment that will still communicate with the legacy equipment. The JTRS programme and its British cousin, the Bowman, have been extensively covered in earlier 2005 issues of Armada International, so an in-depth explanation will be excluded from this report.

General Dynamics C4 Systems and Lockheed Martin recently held a preliminary design review on the Win-T programme, providing the US Army with a 'first draft' of the system design, including the top-level architecture and some key component technologies. This paves the way for the programme's development test/operational test in November of this year. The Win-T, also covered in previous issues of Armada International, is to be a secure, high-bandwidth wireless communications network that will provide voice, data and video communications for the warfighter. Included in the GDC4S/ Lockheed team are Harris and BAE Systems--North America, who are developing the transmission system.

In July of this year ITT Communications received a $ 4.4 million order from the US Army for the company's Near Term Data Radios (NTDR) to supply two newly formed, highly mobile units. The Army also uses the NTDR as a backbone communication system between digitized Tactical Operation Centers--which provide commanders with a common picture of the battlefield and allow them to manage forces in real-time. The NTDR uses a cellular networking architecture on an Internet Protocol to transmit data, graphics and video to mobile forces.

The Overall Picture

Other programmes underway include the Wide Area Situation Picture (Wasp) system that provides a medium for exchanging track information between different command and control centres. Built on an open, scalable architecture, the Wasp--designed and built by Sweden's Saab Technologies--can be used as a standalone correlator to connect a few track producers, as a small-scale distributed correlation system that links moving and ground-based platforms or as a wide-area system that unites thousands of track producers and C2 units. The Wasp system provides command and control units with a high-quality situational awareness of the battlefield so they can, in turn, process and distribute this information as required.

Saab is also developing its NetC4I system, which is a network-centric C4ISR system designed for prototyping, implementing and integrating a client's network-centric command and control system. The system provides role-based access concepts, system of system integration and dynamic configuration of system functionality and user interfaces.

Thales has envisaged a similar concept with its Battlespace Transformation Centre (BTC). As the Thales Group works with customers in developing network-centric capabilities, the company utilises the BTC to test ideas and prototypes on dedicated resources for operational analysis, complex system engineering and architecture design.

In mid-August Northrop Grumman Corporation was awarded a task order under the Network Centric Solutions (Netcents) programme. Netcents is designed to integrate the US Air Force's telephone and network operations, and will equip the Air Force with an enterprise-wide system for managing telecommunications. The system will consolidate the service's multiple voice-network systems and migrate any data into one centralised, expandable and automated computer-based management system.

Being aware of the overall situation is paramount to a successful operation. Tadiran Communications has developed its Aw@renet for providing ground, sea and air moving forces and commanders with a comprehensive situational awareness package that includes a view of the entire battlefield, a synchronised operational picture of all combat units and information sharing of targets and threats. Through the automatic GPS reporting capability of Tadiran's proprietary tactical radios Aw@renet supplies a battle-ready, multi-level network that operates without a network manager or computer terminals.

In response to the vanishing bandwidth problem and today's requirement to operate with coalition forces, industry has developed and is considering a mass of programmes and a seemingly vast quantity of equipment to keep today's warfighter up-to-date with the correct level of information.

But with the growth of current and future operational communication requirements, and the need to shuttle information commensurate with a unit's 'need-to-know' will continue to be a challenge--one with demands that will be slowly adjusted and refined as the battle-space alters, modifies and commutes with each operation.

Bandwidth Used for Recent US Military Operations

Desert Storm 1991           99
Kosovo 1999                250
Enduring Freedom 2002      736
Iraqi Freedom 2003        3200

The increased requirements for tactical bandwidth is consistent
with the growth of drone use and the emergence of new communications
equipment. This graph illustrates the bandwidth usage from the four
latest US military operations. (Armada files)

Note: Table made from bar graph.