Improving Military Communications Through COTM

February 1, 2011

Avital component for any military organization is the ability to communicate, share information and provide support for large, mobile groups of personnel anytime, anywhere. Satellite technology is well suited to meet these needs. It provides a flexible, reliable and high-capacity service that can cover a large area. For units deployed around the world, satellite provides a high-speed communications backbone. It connects soldiers to each other and to central operations. It also enables them to stay united with friends and family back home.

Communications on the Move (COTM) satellite technology increasingly is helping the military with mission-critical connectivity when they need to be mobile. As the name implies, COTM provides communications for soldiers on the move.

Joint User Interoperability Communications Exercise (JUICE) demonstrations highlight the capabilities of satellite communications to aid the warfighter. A live, Everything over Internet Protocol (EoIP) video teleconference session with an Army vehicle traveling in Fort Monmouth, NJ, over the iDirect Government Technologiesí JUICE 2010 Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) SATCOM Non-classified Internet Protocol Network (NIPRNET) was one of the demonstrations.

By providing real-time, secure and reliable video, data and voice transmission via satellite for warfighters and military support organizations, satellite communications enables military groups to carry out important national security missions in areas that lack supporting communications infrastructure. Satellite COTM routers are ideal for battlefield ISR missions as they require limited setup time and are ready for rapid deployment in any theater of operations around the world. Satellite COTM routers are extremely compact and scaled to fit in a soldier’s pack. Additionally, COTM remote routers designed for military applications are ruggedized for continual operations in adverse conditions when soldiers are on the move. COTM enabled satellite networks allow COTM routers and itinerant terminals to operate seamlessly around the world.

Developed to meet rigorous mobility and security requirements, the Evolution 8000 Series Satellite Router provides fast, reliable quality of service enabled connections for Communications on the Move (COTM).

Mobile communications over satellite is not a new idea, but a number of technological advancements in the past few years have made widespread deployment more cost effective and transparent to the end user. Smaller satellite dishes, globally persistent IP addressing and the efficient use of spread spectrum technology have all enhanced the mobility of communications over satellite.

The following are three main types of COTM which are increasingly vital for warfighters on the battlefield.

Ground COTM

New developments in portable ground COTM technology offer several critical advantages. Soldiers can receive battlefield imagery that identifies potential threats, transmit situational video to base, receive command and control information and even transmit X-rays and imagery of a wounded soldier to doctors who can interpret the injury and provide guidance on proper treatment. The value of ground COTM was demonstrated during a recent exercise at Fort Monmouth, NJ. The exercise involved a 15-mile route designed to test-drive COTM systems. In the exercise, a designated COTM vehicle maintained a live video teleconference with Fort Monmouth and a joint task force forward operating base. Using an L-3 Datron Ku-band antenna system, the network sustained connectivity for 35 minutes, passing under overpasses and through heavily wooded areas in the Fort Monmouth vicinity, at speeds as high as 65 miles per hour.

COTM systems traditionally were deployed in larger vehicles; however, significant advancements in satellite communications have brought the technology to the warfighter. New satellite router boards that are half the size of current product standards are now available to fit in soldiers’ rucksacks, providing COTM connectivity to on-the-foot warfighters.

At the Fort Monmouth demonstration referenced above, a ground task force integrated a small form factor satellite router board into a portable terminal to support mobile X-band connectivity. The compact unit uses a light dual paneled antenna for voice, video, and data connectivity. The unit was configured with multiple hubs, allowing troops to accomplish simulated objectives while on the move.

With a dynamic ground COTM solution, a vehicle in the field becomes “broadband-enabled,” capable of supporting Internet, voice, data, and video services. Satellite routers can fit in the rear of a vehicle. A low-profile antenna installs on top, and inside the cabin, users benefit from wireless connectivity on laptop computers and Voice over Internet Protocol phones.

Airborne COTM

Participants at this year’s massive Joint User Interoperability Communications Exercise (JUICE) discuss ultra portable terminals equipped with an iDirect iConnex e850mp SATCOM modem embedded in an L-3 Panther Ku-Band micro-terminal.

Some of the most dynamic developments in COTM technology are taking place in terms of airborne communications. The need for high-definition video from mobile military aircraft communications has long been a requirement for Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR). In the past, achieving this goal has been difficult due to the requirement for very high inbound data rates through ultra small antennas. Further complicating ISR is the use of high-speed aircraft which introduces the Doppler Effect, where high speeds, turbulence and rapid shifts in altitude create problems in receiving satellite signals.

Recent developments in airborne COTM, however, are making reliable high-definition video a reality for critical airborne communications. Airborne COTM can be just as reliable as ground-based COTM with the use of specialized wave forms that support increased vehicle speeds. By utilizing automatic beam switching and persistent IP addressing for airborne communications, an aircraft can be flown from the United States to Europe and on to a final destination in Southwest Asia and maintain a seamless global network of advanced communications while switching satellites throughout its journey. This network even extends to soldiers departing the aircraft with communications-equipped manpacks that include mobile satellite router boards. Paratroopers can quickly and easily set up communications on the ground to suit any mission.

Maritime COTM

Managing a satellite network in a maritime environment can be extremely challenging, especially for users with numerous mobile assets to monitor. Military vessels at sea depend on seamless coverage and maritime COTM helps to provide this. Ships rely on a network of regional satellite networks and network operations centers (NOCs) that provide warfighters with global tracking and communications.

Maritime COTM networks can serve more than 150 military ships and support a full range of broadband applications onboard, including Voice over IP (VoIP), video streaming, data transfer and Internet access. Network operators see a huge volume of network management statistics with so many remotes in the network. But new technology collates the data and displays it in a graphical, intuitive format for easy management.

the military are particularly challenging in satellite communications (SATCOM) because of the broadcast nature of the medium. Recent upgrades in Transmission Security (TRANSEC) include the ability to obfuscate any traffic volume or remote terminal acquisition activity which either on its own or when coupled with other intelligence information may prove useful to an adversary. The challenge of obfuscating acquisition activity is particularly daunting for COTM applications since transient blockages necessitate frequent reacquisition.

COTM is one of the fastest growing areas for satellite communications. Having broadband IP connectivity in a mobile environment on the ground, at sea and in the air provides instant access to vital information. When combined with a solid TRANSEC solution to address security concerns, it provides unparalleled benefits.

Advances in COTM technology are providing critical and secure connectivity to warfighters on the battlefield. Military personnel cannot afford to lose secure connectivity at any moment. Because of this, COTM is increasingly crucial to a successful mission.

This article was written by Karl Fuchs, Vice President of Engineering, iDirect Government Technologies (iGT) (Herndon, VA). For more information, Click Here .