Project Review: A stroll down Army's information highway | ADM Dec 2010/Jan 2011
With the main equipment acquisition phases about to get underway the vision of JP2072’s battlefield communications system is becoming clearer.
In our inexpert way we peek at some of the equipment options that may be contenders for the materiel systems sought.
Tom Muir | Canberra
As ADM readers will be well aware, the first phase of JP2072 Battlespace Communications System-Land (BCS-L) is underway and has been acquiring equipment to meet high priority gaps and more recently the digital radio backbone for the Land 125 Battle Management Systems (BMS) and other radio equipment.
Phase 2 (aka Tranche 2) will continue the acquisition and roll-out of modern communications infrastructure to high readiness land formations and units of the ADF through sub-phases 2A and 2B.
Phase 2A will provide most of the Mobile Systems Segment of BCS-L, whose capabilities include new combat radio systems, tactical data radio systems and tactical HF and satellite radios.
The systems will be underpinned by new network management and support systems.
Tactical radio systems are being acquired from Harris Corp to provide the battlefield networking capabilities supporting Land 200 and impending phases of JP2072.
The order consists primarily of Falcon III AN/PRC-152(C) multiband handheld radios and their in-vehicle adaptors, but also includes AN/PRC-117G wideband, AN/PRC-117F multiband and AN/PRC-150(C) HF manpack radios.
Phase 2B’s prime contract scope embraces the battlefield telecommunications network (BTN) with its various terrestrial and space bearers, range extension systems (aerial and terrestrial), the local area system (LAS) and Satcom C2 on the move (SOTM) systems.
Pre-First Pass milestones for Phase 2B were completed this year with government consideration anticipated in February 2011 when industry feedback on Operational Concept Document and draft RFT will be reviewed and RFT documentation updated.
Assuming First Pass is achieved on schedule, the RFT could be released by the second quarter of 2011 followed by the evaluation of tenders and the conduct of operational development activities (ODA) if required.
Phase 2B Pre-Second Pass milestones is anticipated by mid-2012 with government consideration by the fourth quarter of 2012.
The new Battlefield
Telecom Network
The new BTN will provide connectivity between Bde HQ, JTFHQ, Point of Disembarkation (POD) and the Bde Maintenance Area (BMA).
The new trunk system will be smaller, lighter, and easier to deploy and dismount, and will be carried on Land 121 vehicles.
A primary concern is to automate the interface between the legacy and replacement CNR equipment and the tactical trunk system.
The terrestrial bearers for the BTN are expected to comprise High Capacity line-of-sight (LOS) radio relays in both mounted and transportable forms as well as Wideband beyond line-of sight (BLOS) systems.
Ultra Electronics featured their HCR high capacity multi-mission radio at MilCIS 2010 which supports both HC LOS radio relay and full band ECCM relay.
According to Ultra, the radio will sustain 34 Mbps of full duplex traffic over ranges typically greater than 40km.
Currently Project Parakeet provides the ADF with a secure Battlefield Telecommunications Network (BTN) supplying users at formation and logistics headquarters with secure/non-secure voice, and secure telegraph, data and fax services.
The current system comprises three switching subsystems, a diverse range of transmission subsystems (satellite, microwave, HF and VHF radios, copper wire and optical fibre), a support/maintenance subsystem and a control and management subsystem.
The Parakeet BTN consists of an interconnected network of mobile trunk nodes, comprising communication equipment mounted on Land Rover vehicles and some dismounted equipment for transport by helicopter into the area of operations.
In addition, the satcom terminal is capable of providing RS-422 trunks to carry computer and other types of data signals.
This allows the connection of systems such as the Battlefield Command Support System (BCSS) and extends strategic data networks into the tactical environment.
The ADF currently uses Parakeet Satellite Terminal Assemblages (STAs) to provide high capacity bandwidth to the tactical user through the BTN.
But doctrinally brigades have a limited number of STAs to provide wide-band connectivity and little to no wide-band communications can be provided down to the battalion level whose elements rely on combat net radio.
Upgrades and enhancements to Parakeet have continued under JP65 and BAE Systems was awarded a $15 million three year contract, to supply Message Centre Assemblages (MCA), a vehicle mounted enclosure, which is part of the Brigade Level Communications Centre (one such system was exhibited at MilCIS 2010).
It processes formal message traffic through multiple networks—including the Parakeet and CNR networks.
There are a number of options for enhancement of the trunk system including: replacing the existing Parakeet terrestrial trunk system with an IP-based network but retaining the satcom infrastructure.
A number of Parakeet STAs have already been modified to give them an IP over satcom capability.
Wideband BLOS
And while Parakeet supports remotely deployed units with tactical satellite and trunk communications infrastructure it may find itself eventually augmented or even replaced by Wideband BLOS satcom/troposcatter systems offering greater bandwidth and range than Parakeet’s radio relay LOS of 50 kms and its 20 MBps capacity.
Raytheon’s (DART-T) development of the TRC-170 troposcatter system was offered to Capability Development for evaluation by the ADF in the field.
The DART-T system provides radio relay, tropospheric scatter and satcom capabilities in the one vehicle mounted or trailered unit, enabling it to transmit data and video signals at much faster speeds than the ADF’s current trunking system.
It can transmit data at 20 Mbps in the Ku band by bouncing signals off the troposphere some six miles above the Earth’s surface.
And importantly each terminal combines satcom and troposcatter receive and transmit terminals in the one dish.
During the 1970s, troposcatter was the only means to convey megabit data at over-the-horizon distances up to several hundred kilometers, since tactical satellite communications capacity at the time was limited to critical command and control.
Over the last 25 years, the focus on OTH high-capacity military communications has shifted to satellite communications, but despite the rapid growth in satcom capability, the growth in demand for capacity has been even greater, resulting in the need to lease expensive commercial satcom resources.
While many of these high-capacity satcom links span ranges compatible with troposcatter operation, the TRC-170 was often not used because it was considered too large, too slow to setup, limited in data rate, and it required specially trained operators.
For these reasons earlier versions did not find favour with the Australian Army although troposcatter was recognised here for its range extension possibilities.
The system was also costly with capacity well beyond the bandwidth needs of the ADF at the time.
But the circumstances now are quite different.
The emphasis in the tactical sphere, exemplified by JP2072’s aspirations, is now on high bandwidth converged (voice and data), packet-based IP network infrastructure.
The core of the DART-T system is the terminal and antenna of the JNN satellite transportable channel (a WIN-T increment) modified to transmit via troposcatter and providing a lot more band-width than comes from a satellite.
Is this where the JP2072 project office may leverage WIN-T capabilities? Variants of the AN/TRC-170 have been the primary tactical troposcatter system used by US forces for two decades.
The system has proven highly effective in supporting ground force manoeuvre elements in conflicts since 1990.
The system is now considered legacy equipment, but continues in operation with block upgrades applied.
Satellite systems
While troposcatter may well feature as a potential wideband BLOS in the Phase 2B materiel system, with the ADF’s current satcom capability close to saturation, the advent of the Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) capability would surely change all this.
The proposed BTN’s satellite communications systems will see a range of ground based, transportable, mounted (on-the-move) and dismounted (at-the-halt) WGS-capable satellite terminals mostly acquired under JP 2088.
Presumably Parakeet STAs qualified for WGS, will continue to feature as part of the new trunk system.
The AN/PRC-117G wideband radios now being acquired, are also being offered as part of a broadband network when combined with either manually pointed (at-the-halt) or mounted (on-the-move) Harris L-Band BGAN terminals.
DSTO has shown considerable interest in SOTM including military command-on-the-move via satellite, whereby commanders in vehicles can receive and transmit satellite feeds while moving.
Queensland firm EM Solutions, has demonstrated its Bushmaster PMV-mounted C2-on-the-move Ka band satcom system.
This CTD demonstrator would provide tactical commanders with important new capabilities, especially in fast-moving counter insurgency or similar operations.
Since the WGS provides multiple steerable spotbeams including diplex antennas, direct communication via satellite between vehicles or battle group headquarters will be possible, or the satellite feed could be distributed via high-speed modems to mobile ‘subscribers’ or through IP networks accessible by high data capacity combat radio systems, such as those being acquired.
Depending on the mix of ground terminals, data rates and modulation schemes employed, each WGS satellite can support data transmission rates ranging from 2.1 Gbps to more than 3.6 Gbps.
Doesn’t this mean that satcom nodes in forward areas equipped with IP routers and radio relay assemblages could handle all the brigade to lower echelon communications needs without bothering with other extended range systems?
But perhaps we are forgetting the airtime costs that may be involved.
While the ADF will have guaranteed access to ‘our’ satellite (WGS-6) will it not have to pay transmissions costs and airtime levied by the US space segment authorities such as DISA?
Range extension systems
One range extension solution that is showing particular promise is the specialised second generation terrestrial/airborne radio repeater system being further developed by Adelaide-based RF Industries under a Capability and Technology Demonstrator contract.
AUTRY (Airborne UHF Transponder for Radio relaY) was conceived by DSTO for the ADF to extend the operating range of battlefield communication systems.
In operations, AUTRY is deployed as either a ground-based fixed re-transmission unit, or alternatively as a payload on unmanned airborne vehicles (UAVs), to enhance critical tactical communications with significant range extension over direct battlefield communications.
First-generation AUTRY units have been successfully trialled in battlefield conditions and these deployments have led to significant ADF interest and requests for enhancements.
Based on the redevelopment contract, AUTRY may become a significant tool not only for ADF but other international forces to enhance battlefield communications without compromising transmission security.
According to RFI’s Steve Jacques, AUTRY is a unique device which has been proven to add real value to ground forces, particularly in theatres with hostile terrain such as Afghanistan where ground to ground communications are consistently disrupted.
RFI anticipates significant demand for the re-developed product in both the UAV and ground-based market.