|
For more than a decade, military Command, Control
and Communications (C3) systems benefit from the rapid pace of
development of consumer mobile wireless communications and computing
products. In sharp contrast to the past time, when military
communications were far more advanced than commercial systems,
contemporary personal communicators (mobile phones, PCS, PDAs and
other gadgets) are providing far better performance than any
military device, and are available for a fraction of the cost of
military devices. Modern soldiers are better prepared to use
computers and accept them as an essential part of every mission.
Therefore, fielding of more complex systems is now feasible and
affordable than ever before.
Military Cellular Networks
In recent conflicts, such as Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), it
became clear that such networks cannot keep pace with rapid
movements, and the nodes presenting priority targets for enemy
attack. To support users on the move, the US Army and some NATO
countries use dedicated military
"mobile subscriber" networks (MSE), operating similar
to commercial cellular wireless networks. While supporting users on the move,
such systems rely on stationary nodes to maintain an efficient
area coverage. Commercial systems based on GSM, TDMA, CDMA and IDEN are
used primarily as backup networks, with voice and data support. But
these networks are not reliable enough for military
use as they lack availability, redundancy and required military
security levels. The third generations (G3 systems) of such systems,
currently deployed in few countries, could offer more advanced
services but it is not available on a wide basis which could support
dependable military or homeland security applications. (continued...)
Even the standard Cellular systems are offering advanced services, well
beyond the capabilities of available modern military systems.
Commercial networks are used by the military mainly for general
purpose services during peacetime, for coordination activity and
personal communications. Military forces are adapting the commercial
TETRA standard to field mobile networks for military and security
forces. Such systems are currently fielded with French forces
(utilizing the Tetrapol standard), British forces, Finnish (based on
Nokia systems, operated as part of KFOR in Bosnia). The US Defense
Department has also embarked on a program to develop and produce
secure PDA Phone
supporting commercial GSM and CDMA networks, for military and
homeland security applications. The largest
system of this type has been fielded recently in Israel by Motorola
(the IDF new "Mountain Rose" - TETRA based military mobile cellular
system). TETRA systems as well as commercial cellular services are
planned for migration to G3 standards later in the decade, and
further enhance interoperability, with the introduction of software
defined radios such as the JTRS, which will enable seamless
integration of wireless and wire-line systems into one "mesh".
Current combat net radios (CNR) are providing
voice and data connectivity and form the basic layer for tactical
command and control from division to battalion and company level.
Modern systems offer sophisticated communications security
(encryption) and frequency hopping for efficient spectrum
utilization and electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM). Such
systems support voice and data communications and offer data
transfer rates ranging from 19.2 up to 115 kbps. |
