Enhancing tactical communications with more cohesive solutions

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1 Photo courtesy of US Department of Defense Enhancing tactical communications with more cohesive solutions There s no need to state the importance of tactical communications to defence forces the world over; we all know it s absolutely critical for critical missions. Despite this, as methodologies have advanced beyond smoke signals and carrier pigeons and into the digital age, tactical communications systems have become fragmented. Having attended Global MilSatCom 2017 in November, a common theme emerged from the international defence force speakers: Needs are not being met. The biggest challenge, echoed by many presenters, is the large number of legacy systems in use and the lack of integration, which slows down analysis and decision-making. Many systems, each using different software code and coding languages, are in place at any command centre around the world, resulting in systems with different user interfaces, incompatible data models and map engines. Such systems have required software middle-ware mediation to enable data sharing, requiring even more maintenance costs and equipment. Evidently, there are many opportunities out there for enterprising companies to produce direly-needed integrated solutions. According to Global Market Insights, Inc., the global tactical communications market will be valued around US$30 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of more than three percent in The replacement of outdated legacy systems is expected to drive market growth, while the report cites technological advances such as bone conduction, ear canal equipment, and penetration of LTE in professional mobile radios as a defining force in the increased adoption of this equipment. The trend for product miniaturisation is expected to transform the tactical communications market in the coming years. Integrated tactical communications systems are expected to be key in military communications trends in the coming years as technology makes ever-advanced capabilities possible. South Africa anticipates world first tactical communications system South Africa suffers from a notoriously slow upgrade and acquisition process within its defence department (like many other countries), at least as far as its ground-based air defence system (GBADS) is concerned. First announced in 2002, it was only in 2017 that the first phase, the local warning segment (LWS), was delivered to the Air Defence Artillery Formation in Kimberley, where it is reportedly operational. 30

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3 Despite the slow progress being made in some areas, November 2017 saw Armscor, the South African Department of Defence s arms procurement agency, announce in its annual report plans to acquire a complete new generation tactical communication system for the South African National Defence Force. According to reports, it will be the first tactical communications system in the world to provide complete interoperability between all battlefield elements (Air Force, Army, Navy, etc.) without using gateways or protocol convertors. The system will make provision for all tactical communication requirements for all arms of service and will ensure full interoperability between all users in the various services. It will include state-of-the-art transmission and information security techniques, while incorporating semi realtime data link performance characteristics, in addition to digital voice communication. So far, various parts of the system have been completed, including industrialisation of the four major sub-systems; High Frequency (HF) Radio system; the Very/Ultra High Frequency (V/UHF) radio system; Intra Platform Communication System (IPCS); and the Short Range Communication System (SRCS). Operational test and evaluation were planned to be conducted in the second half of 2017, although no updates have since been made. US Army advances Command Post Computing Environment South Africa is far from alone in desiring an integrated tactical communications system to enhance capabilities. The US Army, too, is implementing a plan to modernize software applications and hardware used in command post operations, which will streamline operations. Photo courtesy of LeoSat According to reports, the current computing environment in the command post (CP) consists of many separatelydeveloped systems with dozens of screens depicting data from the battlefield, as well as multiple servers and different types of computers to support warfighting functions like Movement, Manoeuvre, Intelligence and Fires. While each system is undoubtedly useful (and it had better be, considering how much each most likely cost to develop), the separation between systems creates difficulties in providing a common operating picture (COP). As such, the US Army is now developing the Command Post Computing Environment (CP CE) to shrink the technical and physical footprint and cut out legacy warfighting systems at the command post. With CP CE, the user experience will be simplified with combined warfighting functions in a common user interface, reducing training times and enhancing capabilities. Indeed, according to the US Army, CP CE in planned for initial operational capability in Right now, a commander receives operational information from multiple devices inside the CP because there is not a single application to integrate all applications as a consolidated product, said Col. Troy Crosby, Project Manager for Mission Command, which manages the development and execution of CP CE. The commander has to mentally fuse information to make decisions. We will now get to one picture that has every overlay of all warfighting information needed to make rapid and informed decisions. According to Dan Lafontaine, PEO C3T Public Affairs, which is delivering the network to regions around the world, and Bob Silver (Deputy Product Manager, PM Mission Command s Tactical Mission Command, the challenge lies in moving from multiple Army Battlefield Command Systems (ABCSs), each of which was built using different code and code languages, operating on different interfaces and producing incompatible data models and map engines, to a more streamlined, cost-efficient and cohesive system. CP CE will consist of a new, single tactical server infrastructure with a common software baseline, which will provide one underlying core command post system upon which additional warfighting functionality can be built. A standardised map, message centre and data model will serve as a foundation for every warfighter application, and will remain the same for every computer and every soldier, regardless of military branch or speciality. Three versions small, medium and large, of CP CE will be available, depending on the mission need, in a nod to the need to decreasing size, weight and power (SWaP) needs. In addition, CP CE will also interoperate with the Mounted Computing Environment and the Mobile/Handheld Computing Environment. We re moving to a web-based service where the server will be the brain instead of having every laptop locally loaded with hardware and software. Any workstation connected to the server should be able to access the web client environment, log in and be ready to view the common operational picture, said Maj. Jerry Jones, Assistant Product Manager for CP CE. The applications create a digital overlay, meaning commanders can toggle on and off to see what they need. When I log in, I get warfighting functions specific to my job function. To meet the 2019 deployment timeline, a commercial-off- 32

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5 the-shelf (COTS) acquisition strategy has been adopted, which is also expected to reduce costs. UK MoD makes progress on MORPHEUS project The UK, meanwhile, is also working to advance its tactical communication and information systems (TacCIS) capabilities with its MORPHEUS project, which will address critical system obsolescence and introduce a more agile TacCIS solution. The project will enable emergent technologies to be rapidly exploited, be more responsive to changes in user need, and will realise significant efficiencies. April 2017 saw General Dynamics UK awarded a UK 330 million contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to design and develop the next-generation TacCIS system as the initial phase for the MORPHEUS project. The system will be used to plan, deploy, manage and monitor communications and information for the Army, and will allow users to integrate new radios, applications and other system components faster and with greater ease. According to reports, General Dynamics will implement a new architectural approach called Evolve to Open (EvO), which will evolve the Bowman tactical communication (BCIP 5.6) capability into an open, modular system. The system will connect deployed tactical forces to their commanders, give improved access to powerful operational IT and simplify the user experience. The open system approach allows new technologies to be rapidly integrated to tackle emerging threats and enhance interoperability with allies. The Transition Partner contract is just the first of many procurement projects to deliver the MORPHEUS Evolve to Open baseline over the next few years, said Brigadier Richard Spencer, Head of the MoD s Battlefield and Tactical Communications and Information System Delivery Team. This first contract opens the door for numerous industry opportunities to contribute to the next generation of battlefield communications. Later in July 2017, the MoD issued a tender valued at between UK million to help deliver the MORPHEUS programme and support other key focuses being undertaken by the Battlefield Tactical Communications and Information Systems (BATCIS) team. The MoD is seeking a broad number of functions, including technical support services for the BACTIS group, as part of a five-year programme due to commence in March While the initial focus will be on client-side support for the MORPHEUS programme, additional support may also be delivered to the BATCIS systems engineering assurance function, dismounted situational awareness (DSA) and the Trinity project, which aims to introduce Wide Area Network capability for Land Environment operations. MORPHEUS will, in line with the Defence Information Strategy, deliver the tactical element of the Single Information Environment enabling decision support and information superiority for commanders in the Land Environment battlespace through the rapid exploitation of emergent technology to maximise user agility, and reduce delivery times and cost by eradicating vendor lock-in to become masters of our own destiny, stated the tender notice. Invitations to tender were due to be dispatched in September 2017 following expressions of interest from suppliers. DoD continues to test MUOS The Department of Defense (DoD) has been advancing the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), a narrowband military satellite communications system, for some time now, with the aim of delivering increased UHF communications Photo courtesy of US Department of Defense 34

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7 capabilities, namely greater mobility, higher bit rates and improved operational availability, via legacy and modern terminals alike. MUOS comprises five GEO satellites developed by Lockheed Martin and four ground stations. MUOS-1 through MUOS-4 comprise the initial configuration, while MUOS-5 is an on-orbit spare ensuring the network is always available to support the US and its allied mobile forces. While around 60 percent of military communications rely on narrowband UHF band (300MHz to 3GHz) right now, eventually Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) will come into play; as such, each of the MUOS satellites has two payloads to support both UHF and WCDMA capabilities. MUOS radio terminal users can seamlessly connect around the globe and into the Global Information Grid, as well as into the Defense Switching Network. In the latest news, October 2017 saw a team from Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity (MCTSSA) including electronics engineers, radio operators and technical support officers, perform further tests at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California. The purpose of the test is to evaluate the MUOS waveform in a recent version upgrade, said Capt. Michael Billings, Technical Support Officer supporting MCTSSA s Program Engineering Support Group. We are also testing the new MUOS antennas and diplexers needed to use the MUOS waveform. During the test, MCTSSA assessed the RT-1949 tactical radio s ability to use the MUOS waveform for voice and data communication while on-the-move and at stationary positions. This new satellite-based communications system will bring a vast amount of new capability to the Marine Corps, such as improved communications capacity that is more secure and reliable, said Maj. James Topping, PESG Deputy Director. The fact that this new system is interoperable with existing radios makes it more flexible to the user. MUOS comprises five GEO satellites developed by Lockheed Martin 36