Tactical Data Links Solution for Defense from IBM Stronger Defense Through Smarter Use of Data Links 2 Tactical Data Links Solution for Defense from IBM
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IBM Global Business Services Government/Defense Government Tactical data links solution for defense from IBM Stronger defense through smarter use of data links 2 Tactical data links solution for defense from IBM Contents Highlights • Allows simpler and faster integration with other systems 2 Highlights • Increases information sharing among different system and 3 Smarter defense: Analytics for better battle-space unit types awareness • Improves tactical and situational awareness while helping to better secure critical data 3 Tactical data links technology background • Helps derive more intelligence from data links through 6 Link 22: The combined experience advanced analytics • Enhances interoperability between operational partners 8 IBM Data Link Processing System 9 Tactical data links solutions and services from IBM Tactical communications are crucial to command and control. In addition to sharing relevant data with forces to better 10 Technology outlook: Reduced size and enhanced perform missions, participants must interoperate across service integration and national boundaries in joint and coalition environments. 11 Why IBM The IBM® Data Link Processing System allows friendly units, such as ships, submarines, aircraft and land-based units, to 11 For more information communicate more safely. IBM Global Business Services 3 Smarter defense: Analytics for better information with data sources — such as unstructured data and battle-space awareness non-data link information — to enrich the tactical picture and The world is changing, enabling organizations to make faster, to provide new insights. You can also use assured sharing better-informed decisions. Technology and improved solutions for data link information among coalition partners to processing capabilities have crossed a new threshold in their accommodate national policies. These solutions help you share ability to manage pervasive information, to analyze it in search critical information while better protecting information that of insight, to predict risks and opportunities and to drive faster must be kept confidential. decisions. Integrated solutions help manage, protect, process and analyze unprecedented volumes of structured and Tactical data links technology unstructured data. background In any military operation, especially during combat conditions, Now, the use of tactical data and other information helps the rapid exchange of accurate tactical information by allied develop a new type of military intelligence. With this new forces can be critical to the outcome. As the role of communica- intelligence, defense organizations can make faster, better- tions technology becomes more complex, the importance of informed decisions to drive improved mission performance. linking disparate systems grows ever greater. The North Atlantic However, to use this tactical data, commanders require Treaty Organization (NATO) has developed tactical data link analytical capabilities to perceive, predict and perform faster (TDL) standards that are being implemented by all major with better effects. NATO members and various other nations. IBM can help you use tactical data in new ways with analytics. TDLs are standardized radio communications that are used by With IBM, you can analyze the history of data links and militaries and other organizations for maintaining a common discover trends and patterns to derive intelligence that might situational picture among participants in an operational area. identify suspicious behavior or provide earlier warning of TDL communications systems are driven by a highly enemy actions. You can also combine and analyze data link formatted message structure and bandwidth constraints. 4 Tactical data links solution for defense from IBM The physical size and cost of data link systems can often limit Figure 1 shows a situational image on the DCS, developed by the number of enabled links in operations. These limitations IBM, as the tool might be used by a country’s naval forces. can also dampen the effectiveness of non-data link participants who can’t share a common operational picture. The TDL solution for defense from IBM helps alleviate these challenges. But not all new links are compatible with existing links. New links often require some form of interface to enable the flow of communications. For the armed forces of NATO member countries and allied nations, the various benefits that can accompany the use of TDLs are: • Greater access to real-time and real-time-critical information • Improved speed of decision making • Reduced risk of friendly fire incidents The challenges of the future are compounded by the need for new or upcoming TDL standards, such as Joint Range Extension Application Protocol (JREAP), VMF or Link 22. Along with the TDL for defense solution, IBM offers a stand- alone variant that uses the Display and Control System (DCS) from IBM to help enhance the operational effectiveness of Figure 1: Objects received from remote sensors through TDLs shown on existing systems or non-combat management systems (CMS). the DCS. IBM Global Business Services 5 Link 11 Link 16 Link 22 Tactical data information link TADIL A/B TADIL J (TADIL) designation Radio range • HF: 300 nautical miles (NM) • No HF • HF 1000 NM High frequency (HF) • UHF: 25 NM between ships • UHF: Line-of-sight (LOS) • UHF: Line-of-sight Ultra-high frequency (UHF) 150+ NM ship-aircraft 150+ NM ship-aircraft 150+ NM ship-aircraft Standardized NATO Agreement STANAG 5511 STANAG 5516 STANAG 5522 (STANAG) US Military Standard (MIL-STD) MIL-STD-6011 MIL-STD-6016C Allied Data Publication (ADatP) for ADatP-33 ADatP-33 ADatP-33 TDL standard operating procedure Variations None Satellite TADIL J (S-TADIL J None or STJ), Joint Range Extension Application Protocol (JREAP), Satellite tactical datal link (STDL) Table 1: Basic details of Link 11, Link 16 and Link 22. Data link messages are characterized by their standard message slow link that normally operates on a polling system with a net and transmission formats. These formats are designed to control station (NCS) that polls each participant for data. Link promote interoperability in a limited bandwidth environment. 11 can also be operated in broadcast modes that allow one TDLs are limited to a specific area of operation and are used participant to make a single data transmission or a series of for the command and control of forces. Although various TDL single transmissions. Even though Link 11 is security rich, it is standards exist, the two US and NATO data link systems in not resistant to electronic countermeasures (ECMs). general use Link 11 and Link 16, as shown in Table 1, compared to the new Link 22. Link 16 Link 16 is an improved data link standard that is used to Link 11 exchange near real-time information. As a communication, Link 11 provides a computer-to-computer exchange of digital navigation and identification system, Link 16 supports the tactical information among ships, aircraft and shore information exchange between tactical command, control, installations. Systems that use Link 11 data communications communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) systems. can operate with HF or UHF radios and can use satellite Link 16 is used in sea, airborne and ground-based units. In communication as an alternative to provide more range. Based addition to enabling units to exchange their tactical picture, on technology developed in the 1960s, Link 11 is a relatively Link 16 supports the exchange of text messages and image data. It also provides two channels of digital voice. 6 Tactical data links solution for defense from IBM The radio transmission and reception component of Link 16 Link 22: The combined experience can be the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System Link 22 is the newest NATO standard for tactical information (JTIDS) or its successors, the Multifunctional Information exchange between military units. The development of Link 22 Distribution System -Low Volume Terminal (MIDS-LVT) started in 1992 as the NATO Improved Link Eleven (NILE) and Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint project. The goals of this project were to replace the aging Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS). These high-capacity, Link 11 standard, complement Link 16, improve allied UHF, line-of-sight (LOS), frequency-hopping data interoperability and enhance mission performance. The Link communications terminals provide security-rich, jam-resistant 22 standard was developed to overcome weak points of earlier voice and digital data exchange. JTIDS and MIDS terminals data links. Such weak points include Link 11’s lack of operate on the principle of time division multiple access robustness, susceptibility to interference, and low data rate. (TDMA), where time slots are allocated among all Link16 Link 16’s weaknesses include a short range and the use of civil network participants for the transmission and reception of aviation frequencies. The NATO member nations that data. TDMA eliminates the requirement for a net control participated in the development of Link 22 are Canada, station (NCS) by providing a communications network France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom and the US. architecture without nodes. Today, the Link 22 standard is operational. Operating in UHF frequencies, Link 16 is limited to the Link 22 transmits data in fixed-format messages that are exchange of information between users within LOS of each compatible with Link 16 formats. Like Link 16, other. However, new technologies are providing the means to communication channels