SatCom For Net-Centric Warfare January/February 2011 MilsatMagazine

Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance

Image: AEHF courtesy of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman

Ka-band Mounted Battle Command On-The-Move Photo courtesy of EM Solutions  milsatmagazine pAYLOAD — Jan/feb 2011 

Analysis: Military Communications —...... 04 About the cover image A Key Target For Satellite Services The U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Extremely High by Dustin Kaiser, Futron Frequency (AEHF) system is the nation’s nexgen

INTEL: GEOINT + Satellite Data:...... 12 military strategic and tactical relay system, which Timely + Actionable will deliver survivable, protected communications by Marv Gordner, MorganFranklin to U.S. forces and selected allies worldwide. When fully operational, the system will consist of four Command Center: Joseph W. Trench...... 18 Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company crosslinked satellites, a ground mission control the editors center, and user terminals. The AEHF system provides joint, interoperable, assured connectivity Focus: A Software-Based Approach To...... 28 for warfighters in operations in all levels of Airborne COTM Networking by Peter Carides, Tachyon Networks conflict — a capability not available through other planned military communication networks. Focus: Field Trials Of Mounted Battle...... 38 AEHF provides greater capacity and more Command Ka-Band SATCOM “On-The-Move” flexible coverage than its predecessor, Milstar, by Peter Woodhead, EM Solutions while assuring operational continuity through Chronicles: The Atlas Heritage...... 52 compatibility with the Milstar constellation. by Jos Heyman, Tiros Space Information

Under contract to Lockheed Martin, the AEHF prime Focus: Long Distance Force Protection...... 66 contractor and overall space system manager, by Rodger Von Kries, Tachyon Networks Northrop Grumman, builds and integrates the AEHF payload that consists of processors, antennas, radio frequency subsystems and crosslinks. The Command Center: Philip Harlow...... 72 XTAR, LLC payload delivers the new XDR (Extreme Data Rate) the editors communications services, providing data rates up to 8.192 Mbps per user, Milstar LDR (Low Data Dispatches...... 80 Rate) services (75-2,400 bits per second), and the editors Milstar MDR (Medium Data Rate) services (4.8 Kbps-1.544 Mbps). AEHF delivers the flexible OPS: Adapting & Understanding...... 90 connectivity-on-demand needed to achieve 21st The Future Of War by Col. Bruce Smith century objectives — swift, decisive outcomes based on information dominance. On-orbit processing provides the flexibility needed to rapidly establish and reconfigure networks to meet dynamic command and control requirements.

Electronically steerable antenna beams and flexible channel-to-beam mapping allow the delivery of capacity when it’s needed, where it’s needed. EHF frequencies, onboard digital processing, and highly directional antennas reduce the probability of jamming and intercept, assuring secure, reliable communications. Satellite crosslinks enable flexible global communications without the need for fixed site ground gateways.

ANALYSIS Military Communications A Key Target For Satellite Services author: Dustin Kaiser, Senior Space Analyst, Futron

Key Military Marketing Trends deployments, primarily by U.S. The strongest trends impacting defense forces, as well as use of military demand for commercial satellites to support Intelligence, satellite capacity over the next Surveillance and Reconnaissance decade include growing use of (ISR) activities, in particular those satellite capacity to support new carried out using a variety of types of warfighting, which are Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or increasingly dependent on broadband Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs). communications. Key among these are the expanded global troop

4 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 While commercial satellites have Futron’s forecast includes a full increasingly been used to meet these alternate view representing conversion requirements, there is still a bias in of demand into Mbps, with military ANALYSIS the military for specialized, proprietary demand in 2009 estimated at almost 16 capabilities, using military satellites. Gbps, growing to over 28Gbps in 2019.

Given the range of uncertainty While the United States military and regarding development and deployment security forces represent the largest of new technologies, new regulations, buyer, demand from international security and new market solutions, Futron’s forces is anticipated to grow in aggregate forecasting includes projection of a terms as well as an overall percentage of series of possible future states, not demand. Fast followers, such as NATO just a single demand scenario, with allies and Israel, will continue to require the key variables summarized below. increased supply of commercial capacity. Other governments in the Middle East, Japan, Australia, and India will also likely require international commercial capacity. The geographic Futron’s assessment of demand demand requirements will include for commercial military satellite in-theater operations as military communications suggests that the communications are pushed lower into market is significantly larger than the warfighter ranks, as well as “home generally perceived, due to sizable country” demand tied to training, demand for classified operations backhaul, and redistribution of data. and agencies, as well as a rapidly Assumptions/Methodology increasing international customer base. While Futron’s forecast covers global Futron estimates the 2009 market military demand for commercial size for the military segment at 390 satellite communications capacity, TPEs for C-, Ku-, and Ka-bands, with it is estimated that U.S. military a baseline forecast for the addition of demand accounts for approximately almost 300 units through 2019, or 5.6 90 percent of global military demand percent annual growth over ten years. for commercial satellite services.

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 5 The rate of growth in demand assessed across all frequency bands. for non-U.S. defense agencies is The results of this analysis are shown ANALYSIS expected to grow at a rate similar in the regional break-out below. to that of the U.S. military. While this year’s military forecast does The 2010 Futron ten year forecast not model demand for secure military of military demand for commercial communications such as those provided satellite communications is developed by the Paradigm/Skynet system, the based on a bottom up terminal forecast United States Advanced Extremely model. Within the model, demand High Frequency (AEHF) spacecraft, is analyzed separately amongst or military demand for commercial aerial, maritime, land mobile, and narrowband satellite communications, land fixed terminal programs. Futron has developed extensive data on this market, and it will be included Terminal demand is analyzed for in future forecasts. This forecast does, growth in total number of terminals, however, include X-Band capacity terminal throughput, terminal provided on a commercial basis, in spectrum usage, and overall terminal addition to C-, Ku-, and Ka-band. utilization levels within ten regions and the oceans. Demand is then

Military Services Capacity: Baseline Demand Forecast by region

6 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 Drivers/Trends soldiers within the armed forces during repeated overseas deployments. Morale —U.S. + Allied Deployments support will likely become increasingly ANALYSIS important as the hyper connected The U.S. DoD’s FY 2011 budget outlines millennial generation constitutes an key structural changes that will increase increasingly larger percentage of demand for satellite communications the military. To help enable access through increases in targeted personnel to commercial bandwidth, the U.S. (e.g., Special Forces) as well the military is pushing for new military conversion of Army Multi-functional and Functional Support (MFF) brigades to a modular design with satellite capability driven down through the brigade to the company level. These are examples of strategic decisions driving military demand throughout the globe.

In addition to satellite communications providing the medium for tactical and strategic force projection, satellite communications supports troop morale. Access to the Internet and the ability to stay in touch with friends and family is a capability that helps retain professional

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 7 broadband terminals to be compatible systems are under development in the with commercial satellites. majority of militaries around the globe. ANALYSIS

Naval forces are deployed for long In this connection, the U.S. military periods of time. The U.S. Navy in has indicated its intention to migrate particular projects military force from the current Ku-band to the use through the deployment of ships in of Ka-band to support its fleet of locations around the globe. These Global Hawk vehicles, and plans to ships currently have an average of deploy an upgraded Predator drone, 12 Mbps. U.S. Naval planners plan to designated the Gray Eagle, with increase through put to ship to 20-100 advanced communications capabilities Mbps during the forecast period. that will require up to 50 Mbps satellite communications throughput. —ISR Platforms —Wideband Global SATCOM Deployment Strong growth in UAV/RPA deployments, with associated growth The WGS constellation is a fleet of in satellite communications demand, military satellites, currently three is projected worldwide based on of which are in operation, which is increasing number of systems and intended to provide the majority exponential growth in their capacity of U.S. military operated satellite requirements as more sophisticated communication. Each WGS satellite sensor systems are deployed. New ISR operates at Ka-and X-band, providing

Global Hawk UAV

8 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 between 2.1 and 3.6 Gbps of data —Use of Hosted Payloads or throughput. In addition to the three Public/Private Partnerships satellites on-orbit, three more are in ANALYSIS production for launch over the next One alternative increasingly being three years, with the last of these being considered by a number of countries, jointly funded by the Australian MoD. including the U.S., is the use of commercial satellites to host military The U.S. government also recently payloads either directly or through authorized $182 million to start public/private partnerships. In some work on a seventh satellite, and it is cases, such as the Paradigm Secure projected that as many as 12 WGS program operated by Astrium satellites may be built, some with other Services for the U.K. Ministry of allied military funding. The number Defence, the Skynet satellites of WGS satellite procured will impact are effectively military satellites the level of U.S. military demand for operated by a private company. commercial satellite communications.

Artistic rendition of the SkyNet5 satellite

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 9 Another variation is the agreement To help address various type of whereby the Australian Ministry of satellite communications demand, ANALYSIS Defense has contracted with Intelsat commercial providers are considering for UHF capacity to be owned/operated development of hybrid terminals that by the AMoD on an Intelsat satellite, a can access wideband and narrowband venture in which the U.S. DoD is also spectrum. Such a capability may allow participating. Similar arrangements are troops that experience interference also being considered by other bands in higher frequencies such as including Ka-and X-band, including Ka-band to gracefully degrade into the potential use of the Inmarsat an L-band link that would provide 5 satellites for military services. To basic communications capabilities. the extent that these are payloads operating in military frequencies, they Similarly, a multi-band terminal are not captured in this forecast. that can access a broad spectrum of The growing interest in, and use frequencies allows troops relying on of such payloads, may, however, the terminal to access the best space support the deployment of more segment solution at the time of need commercial satellites for both and provide military planners greater military and commercial services. flexibility to manage spectrum usage. This will be an important trend to follow in future forecasts. Commercial communications satellites are creating new methods New Applications / Technology for using satellites that allow for Defense requirements for satellite greater flexibility to direct high communications include a range of capacity beams to mobile platforms. commercial and military frequency Such concepts would allow for high bands. While militaries prefer to use throughputs to mobile platforms their own frequencies, they have enabling greater transfer of data recognized the value of the flexibility from sensor systems that are offered by dual-use capabilities. continuously increasing in capability. Multiple military sources have noted the value of having more UHF capacity, The U.S. military indicates that it particularly in the Pacific Ocean desires to improve its ability to create Region, given regional uncertainty/ and manage hybrid networks both instability, the largely maritime terrestrial and satellite based. It has nature of this region, and the lack of also indicated that improvements other capacity. Another region with are needed in the efficiency of specialized needs is Latin America, spectrum usage from improved where the U.S. DoD has increasingly compression to interoperable and deployed both fixed and mobile dynamic spectrum management. satellite resources in support of multiple disaster response activities. A range of new applications are expected to drive growth in demand for satellite communications around

10 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 Inmarsat 5 the globe. The To fill this gap, the U.S. military is Image: Boeing increasing considering a number of traditional availability of solutions including deployment of a ANALYSIS information greater number of military operated access and the WGS satellites to other options such ability to fuse as hosted payloads, commercially information operated military satellites, and other from various innovative procurement and operational data sets to concepts. In this connection, the U.S. create useful Air Force is in the process of soliciting knowledge input from commercial satellite is becoming operators to help understand the basic to range of solutions from which it might successfully develop a new systems architecture. projecting military All of these new and evolving power, and is circumstances mean that demand a constantly is certain to evolve as well. Futron evolving process. has developed alternative high and low scenarios around the baseline Business Issues / Game Changers to reflect potential changes in key While requirements continue to variables. At the end of the day, increase, two emerging issues however, all forecasts indicate that are critical to future operations demand for commercial satellite and military expansion plans. capacity to serve military users worldwide will continue to expand. The first issue is that changing About the author priorities limit the funding/fielding Dustin Kaiser is a of new military satellites.The second Senior Space Analyst issue is that changing priorities at Futron, where he works with commercial and asynchronous program cycles and government clients make it difficult for DoD to match addressing a range the availability of capacity on orbit of international space markets from military with terminal deployments. communications to remote sensing These mismatches of capacity, and the commercial spaceflight industry, including equipment, funding, and demand spaceports, launch vehicles, and are driving greater interest in astronaut training. Mr. Kaiser has a more responsive procurement B.S. in Aeronautics and is currently completing an M.S. in Space Studies models. The cancellation of the from the University of North Dakota. In Transformational Communications addition, he holds a commercial multi- Satellite (TSAT) has led to a gap in engine pilots license and is an FAA certified flight instructor-instrument. wideband satellite communications capacity for the U.S. military.

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 11 intel geoint + satellite data timely + actionable Command center author: Marv Gordner Program Manager, Intelligence Solutions MorganFranklin Corporation

It is no secret that the Department of in the areas of satellite technologies, Defense (DoD) and the intelligence geospatial imagery, full-motion video, community (IC) are dealing with a new and other raw data have increased the frontier of information collection and volume of information available to dissemination. Over the past five to decision makers and warfighters. seven years, technological advances

Joint Task Force North Intelligence Directorate Geospatial Intelligence Office provides the JTF North staff and law en- forcement partners with imagery support, to include: multiple scale maps, line drawings, and custom geospatial intelli- gence analysis. Photo courtesy of JTS North

12 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 While the explosion in the development 30 times that amount of data, and intel of innovative and forward-thinking 2011 will most likely prove to be data-gathering solutions has created a another year of UAV data overload. world of opportunity, it has also caused a tremendous amount of inefficiencies Military leaders are also starting that can actually hinder our missions to come to terms with this issue.

abroad. Simply put, geospatial According to a recent article in Command center intelligence (GEOINT) and satellite Defense Industry Daily, Lt. Gen. data must be timely and actionable David A. Deptula, the U.S. Air Force in order to serve their purpose. deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, said, As a former military intelligence officer, “We are going to find ourselves in I can say firsthand that getting the the not-too-distant future swimming right intelligence at the right time is in sensors and drowning in data.” critical. However, the reality is that from a data retrieval standpoint, On top of that, it is estimated it takes weeks for the necessary that intelligence analysts spend information to get into the hands of approximately 80 percent of their warfighters and other decision makers. time conducting research (essentially sifting through incoming data) A few weeks is an extremely long time while just 20 percent of their time to wait, especially when intelligence is focused on developing actionable data must be received within days solutions. Clearly this distribution or hours in order to be effective. of effort should be altered so that analysts are able to develop As a result of this “data traffic jam,” actionable and timely intelligence our troops repeatedly engage in the that moves the ball forward. same battles in the same locations, creating an endless loop of warfighting If we look at the history of using that does not advance the mission and, aerial and satellite imagery in war, we frankly, quells the morale of our troops. can actually trace this data explosion back to a few key moments. A main driver of this issue is the proliferation of GEOINT and satellite During World War I, the U.S. military data collection technologies over the first used aerial photographs to provide past decade. Advancements in Light accurate overviews of battlefields, Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) troops on the move, and resources as well as the surge in unmanned such as factories and bridges. aerial vehicles (UAVs) have created an influx of data that is simply too By World War II, specialized overwhelming for analysts to handle. photoreconnaissance aircraft were UAVs alone generated 24 years worth introduced, bringing new challenges of video footage in 2009. In 2010, such as deciphering enemy they were expected to generate countermeasures that involved fake

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 13 intel

1914 camera photo reconnaissance cameras...the pilot held the huge camera over the side of the plane and acquired photos from approximately 12,000 feet in the air. Photo courtesy of The History Blog.

units that were deployed to cause of the National Imagery and faulty intelligence gathering. Mapping Agency (NIMA).

Fast forward to 1995, when in an effort By 2003, and living in the aftermath of to end the conflict in Bosnia, President the September 11th terrorist attacks Clinton gathered key representatives on American soil, NIMA changed its from the warring factions to meet in name to the National Geospatial- Dayton, Ohio. In preparation for this Intelligence Agency (NGA), and the meeting, the U.S. delegates relied on concept of geospatial intelligence mapping and topographic data from the (GEOINT) came to fruition. Defense Mapping Agency and The U.S. had just completed several the U.S. Army years of massive technological Topographic innovations during the dot-com Engineer era. Coupled with the nation’s new Center, terror threats, the U.S. was poised which for a boom in the development ultimately of GEOINT technologies. led to the creation

14 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 During this era, the DoD and IC also This is a laudable vision for the future intel relied on members of industry to of the NGA, and living in today’s develop key GEOINT innovations. This world of user-generated content, it created major business opportunities makes perfect sense. But the key to for the larger defense contractors bringing this vision to life is ensuring and spawned a world of smaller that the open source data is relevant,

companies creating advancements real, and actionable. The real GEOINT Command center in the areas of full-motion video, revolution will be about finding 3-D imagery, remote sensing LIDAR, solutions for data retrieval that allow GeoPDFs, and cloud-based solutions. for effective information sharing.

Looking toward the future, the next The recent disclosure of key classified generation of satellite imagery and documents by WikiLeaks may data retrieval will likely put the power cause more barriers for successful directly into the hands of the end information sharing. However, any user. This vision was advocated by changes that result from this disclosure Letitia Long, the director of the NGA, will likely take place on the policy level, at the recent GEOINT Symposium and may trickle down to impact the in New Orleans. She spoke primarily day-to-day use of intelligence data. of providing online and on-demand access to GEOINT knowledge, ultimately Despite the new information sharing granting access to the agency’s challenges facing the Office of the content, services, and expertise Director of National Intelligence through more open-sourced solutions. (ODNI), there is still a need for tangible

During World War II, Germany used their Henschel Hs 126 for military reconnaissance.

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 15 intel retrieval innovations — and the ODNI Although steps have been taken to is moving forward to address these address the GEOINT and satellite data issues. Prior to the WikiLeaks issue, distribution issue, many inherent the ODNI had already taken steps to challenges remain. And as long as deal with information sharing issues. innovations continue to emerge in the collection department, we will be By appointing Robert Cardillo to serve swimming in a sea of data. We will as the deputy director for intelligence eventually reach a tipping point and integration, the ODNI united the roles there will be a shift toward making data of analysis and collection to advance actionable and usable. Hopefully 2011 information sharing and collaboration will be the year that this happens. between these two essential functions. About the author Marv Gordner serves as Program The U.S. Army is also making an Manager in the Intelligence Solutions effort to enhance information division at MorganFranklin. Mr. Gordner possesses 21 years of retrieval by expanding its intelligence extensive leadership and management databases. By adding regional analysis experience in the Department of capabilities, data will essentially be Defense and intelligence fields. He is a retired Military Intelligence Officer stored in distributed data warehouses and Lieutenant Colonel, with service that allow analysts to access and including the 101st Airborne Division share actionable intelligence to and Special Operations Forces, including 5th Special Forces, 3rd support forces in theater. The Army Special Forces, and the Joint Special intelligence brigades will use these Operations Command (JSOC). tools to store and study data before For additional information providing it to deployed forces. regarding MorganFranklin, their website is located at... From a technology innovation http://www.morganfranklin.com/ standpoint, the IC is also starting to tap into logic algorithms that overcome the human challenge of situational understanding by using dynamic planner tools to expedite combat and interagency decisions.

Other solutions include enterprise web-based portals to aid in collecting, analyzing, and ultimately converting vast amounts of raw intelligence and open source data into actionable intelligence — as well as keeping everyone in the enterprise informed and maintaining a flat organization.

16 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 Command center

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 17 COMMAND CENTER and civil space customers. space civil and DoDsupporting systems ground for responsible business, of line Systems Defenseof Department the of president vice appointed was he 2002, June In2000. August in president vice to promoted soon was and Operations TechnicalValley Delaware of director the as 1999 January in M&DS joinedTrench Mr. director. program 7 Landsat the named was he 1996, In facility.Pennyslvania Forge, Valley Space & Missiles Martin’s Lockheed at engineeringof director the appointed was Trench Mr. 1994, In satellites. communicationsNASA and Defense of Department of control and command forused systems ground of testing and development design, the with V.P., Navigation Systems Navigation V.P., Space Systems Company Systems Space held a number of increasingly responsible positions associatedpositions responsible increasingly of number a held he1994, and 1978 Between engineer. development and design hardwarea as 1978 April in Aerospace GE joined Trench Mr. solutions.(PNT) Timing and NavigationPosition, affordable innovative, develop and growth driveto execution program GPS through gained excellence operatingand management, program technology, leverages areamission The programs. III GPS and IIR/IIR-M GPS the of productionand development, design, the for responsive is area missionSystems Navigation the leadership, Trench’s Mr. Under Joseph W. Trench W. Joseph Lockheed Martin Lockheed Rescue mission. mission. Rescue and Search the of out “search” the taken essentially has GPS 24/7/365, stand, you where exactly know to ability the Providing confidence. with territory navigate unfamiliar accurately and most, matters it with precisionwhen strike to military the allows GPS our world. to indispensable become has GPS and counting, users billion one nearly With ways. many so in lives many so affected has history in constellation other satellite No overstated. be cannot (GPS) System Positioning Global the of importance the put, Simply Joseph Trench GPS of generation next the Overseeing MilsatMagazine (MSM) spacecraft, you must have as good of of good as have must you spacecraft, an idea as anyone…Just how critical critical how anyone…Just as idea an has GPS become to the world? the to become GPS has arrive on the scene faster. Farmers, Farmers, faster. scene the on arrive to services timing and location use Disaster relief and emergency services GPS. by provided timing accurate the on depend all management phone operationsandpower grid infrastructure. Banking,mobile mainstay oftheglobalinformation though, theuseofGPSisnow a application military a just than More MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 19

COMMAND CENTER surveyors, geologists, miners and that reduce fuel use and ensure safety many other civil and commercial no matter the weather conditions. industries rely on GPS to perform These are just the most visible their missions more safely, efficiently industries; new GPS applications are and affordably. being invented every day. The power to know exactly where you are and

COMMAND CENTER Our transportation system, in the air, at what precise time is tremendously on the ground and at sea, depends valuable. And now, thanks to GPS, it’s on GPS to navigate efficient routes easily available.

While not a distant memory, it’s hard to imagine a world without GPS. The constellation has been so successful and reliable that the user now either takes the system for granted, or is demanding even more precision and availability. That’s why we are building GPS III. As the current spacecraft on-orbit continue to age, but the user demand increasingly expands, GPS III will replenish and enhance the system to meet the needs of any GPS user around the world well into the future.

With the importance of this mission in mind, we are proud to be a partner with the U.S. Air Force and are laser focused on executing and delivering GPS III to provide the critical position, navigation and timing (PNT) signals that keep the world ticking.

20 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 MSM While Lockheed Martin has While the GPS III contract was awarded played a large role in GPS, the in May of 2008, Lockheed Martin’s system’s success is a product of experience in developing Position, the hard work and dedication of Navigation and Timing solutions countless government and industry started long before that. Can you organizations. All the credit in the describe Lockheed Martin’s heritage world goes to the U.S. Air Force for COMMAND CENTER experience in the GPS arena? successfully managing the largest, and one of the most critical military Joseph Trench satellite constellations in the world. GPS is not new to us; in fact, the Lockheed Martin-built GPS IIR and MSM IIR-M spacecraft have been and will Compared to current spacecraft, what continue to serve as work horses for enhancements will GPS III bring for the constellation for many years to the user? come. Our team designed and built 21 GPS IIR satellites for the Air Force Joseph Trench and subsequently modernized eight GPS III will usher in a new era of of those spacecraft, designated GPS vastly improved PNT capabilities, IIR-M, to enhance operations and while also reducing the cost and labor navigation signal performance. The needed to operate and sustain the current fleet of Block IIR and IIR-M satellites throughout their life cycle. satellites has reached more than 120 cumulative operational years on-orbit GPS III will improve position, with a reliability record of better than navigation and timing services 99.9 percent. and provide advanced anti-jam capabilities yielding superior system We are also engaged in the operations security, accuracy and reliability. and sustainment of the constellation, The first increment, in a planned and work closely with Air Force Space three increments, GPS IIIA will deliver Command to maintain and monitor signals three times more accurate the GPS IIR and IIRM satellites on orbit than current GPS spacecraft and to ensure the very best service for the provide three times more power for military and civilian end users. military users, while also enhancing the spacecraft’s design life and adding a new civil signal designed to be interoperable with international global navigation satellite systems.

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 21 This will dramatically improve GPS Joseph Trench Earth coverage for military users, The current GPS constellation has providing them more reliable GPS performed extraordinarily well, and service anywhere in the world, provided fantastic reliability to date. including canyons, mountains, at sea However, the various applications and or in dense urban environments. GPS infrastructures we have discussed that

COMMAND CENTER III’s flexible payload also includes have come to rely on GPS, and maybe the capability to modify signals after even some new applications that have launch, which allows the government not yet come to market, will require to better accommodate future changes and capability enhancements requirements without initiating a that cannot be accommodated by the new space vehicle procurement. The current Block II GPS spacecraft. design also has the flexibility to add improved clock capabilities to GPS III is a key portion of an overall further enhance precision without GPS modernization effort that major redesign. will allow the GPS architecture to affordably meet the growing and To be concise, GPS III will last longer; ever expanding military, civilian and deliver more capability; and leverage commercial user needs now and well the power of international cooperation into the future. — all to meet the ever growing demand of global military and civil These enhancements are driven users, while also reducing the life both by technological advances and cycle cost to the U.S. government. user demand. Efforts to modernize the second-generation of GPS MSM satellites have been successful in You have mentioned the success addressing some improvement needs and reliability of the current GPS through retrofits to the original constellation to date, so why do we design, but these initiatives don’t need GPS III? extend far enough and the heritage designs cannot accommodate the enhancements needed in the future.

The GPS III accuracy and availability specifications have been identified as incremental improvements beyond what can be achieved by further modernizing Block II and updating the control segment. A valuable lesson both the government and industry has learned, not just on GPS, but with respect to many space acquisitions, is that the process for changing, developing, testing and implementing

22 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 new designs into an operational system can create significant cost, schedule and technical challenges that often result in overrun.

GPS III, designed from the beginning with the future in mind, provides COMMAND CENTER a low risk path to constellation sustainment and incremental capability insertion that can keep pace with the growth and increasingly rigorous demand of users.

MSM Can you update us on the program’s current status and future prospects?

Joseph Trench The GPS III team successfully completed the program’s Critical Design Review (CDR) in August 2010, two months ahead of the baseline schedule. The CDR represented the culmination of 64 lower-level CDRs, validated the detailed GPS III design to ensure it meets warfighter and civil requirements, and allowed the program to begin the manufacturing phase.

Building on the highly successful CDR, GPS III has now transitioned into the manufacturing phase and has completed over 50 percent of its Manufacturing Readiness Reviews (MRRs). Approximately 80 percent of all parts are on order and the program maintains 225 days of margin.

Working shoulder-to-shoulder with the U.S. Air Force and GPS user communities, the GPS III team is currently ahead of schedule and on track to deliver the much needed GPS III capabilities as planned in 2014.

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 23 MSM the challenges that new programs While we have noted that the GPS III often face. To mitigate risks, we team completed its critical design have placed a heavy emphasis on review two months ahead of schedule, reducing risk through an early and large programs like GPS III typically rigorous test program that identifies run into its challenges later in issues and solves problems before

COMMAND CENTER manufacturing and testing — can you they become costly. With the use of describe how you intend to meet these flight-like engineering development challenges while keeping the program units, we are succeeding thus far. on schedule and affordable? Equivalent to flight units in form, fit, and function, these units are used as Joseph Trench pathfinders for manufacturing and Having managed GPS spacecraft testing, which allows us to work out development and numerous other potential problems in advance of the space programs, we understand flight hardware.

GPS III also procured a GPS Non-Flight Satellite Testbed (GNST) that will trailblaze a path for the first space vehicle. It provides space vehicle design level validation; early verification of ground, support, and test equipment; and early validation and rehearsal of transportation operations. The GNST will run through the same steps of the production flow as the flight vehicles, including environmental testing, through the Lockheed Martin facilities in Newtown, Pennsylvania, and Littleton, Colorado, followed by processing at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

24 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 Software development has also MSM been a challenge on many space GPS III is often noted for its “back to programs. The GPS III plan delivers basics” acquisition approach — would qualified flight software prior to you explain how this approach is integration on the GNST, and well being applied and how it is benefiting before the flight vehicle’s need. A the program? laboratory that provides hardware- COMMAND CENTER in-the-loop testing with flight-like processors is further reducing risk, and ensuring an efficient and affordable software build.

While we recognize that we will face the same challenges that many space programs do, the GPS III team is well postured to meet these challenges, mitigate risk, continue through manufacturing and proceed into integration and test — and ultimately deliver the first GPS IIIA spacecraft in 2014, efficiently and affordably.

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 25 Joseph Trench earlier in the program. Additionally, Yes, the government-industry team the Capability Insertion Program adopted a “Back to Basics” philosophy is a key element in maturing and and applied it to the GPS III program. integrating the deferred capabilities With an incremental approach and and assessing new requirements. stable requirements, capabilities This approach contributes to greater

COMMAND CENTER that have less technical maturity or assurance for meeting schedule and have greater risks of being properly cost commitments and delivering integrated now, are deferred to the mission success for the end user. later increments when risk is reduced. Next, we are applying government The current GPS III contract includes and industry lessons learned over a Capability Insertion Program (CIP) the past decade and reinstated designed to mature technologies rigorous technical specifications and and perform rigorous systems standards, a strong emphasis on engineering for the future IIIB and systems engineering, and a robust IIIC increments planned for follow-on mission assurance process. procurements. Eight GPS IIIB and 16 GPS IIIC satellites are planned for These provide the basis for verifying later increments, with each increment the quality of the technical work including additional capabilities and ensuring issues are surfaced based on technical maturity. When fully deployed, these enhancements will contribute to improved accuracy and assured availability to meet the expanding needs of military and civilian users worldwide.

MSM Who are the main GPS III team members, and where will different aspects of the program take place?

Joseph Trench The GPS III team is led by the Global Positioning Systems Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, GPS IIIA, image courtesy of U.S.A.F. Space based at Los Angeles Air & Missile Center, LAFB Force Base, California. Air Force Space Command’s 2nd

26 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 Space Operations Squadron (2SOPS), While there are many different players based at Schriever Air Force Base, and aspects of the GPS sustainment Colorado, manages and operates the and modernization effort, the Air GPS constellation for both civil and Force has a tremendous GPS track military users. record, one that I would bet on. To do our part, we are working shoulder-

Lockheed Martin is the GPS III prime to-user communities to execute GPS COMMAND CENTER contractor, with teammates ITT of III efficiently and affordably. We are Clifton, New Jersey, and General on firm footing to deliver GPS III as Dynamics of Scottsdale, Arizona. planned in 2014.

MSM Image credits All artistic renditions and photographs The Government Accountability Office are courtesy of Lockheed Martin, (GAO) has released two reports now unless otherwise stated. citing a possible gap in GPS coverage in the future. What is the health of the GPS constellation going forward, what are the chances of a gap in coverage, and what needs to be done to ensure a robust constellation?

Joseph Trench Well, I’d like to first commend Air Force Space Command and the GPS Directorate at the Space and Missile Systems Center. Together, they have fielded and are operating the most robust GPS constellation in history. While the constellation is healthy, and a gap in coverage is not likely, the GAO report does underscore the importance of GPS and the underlying need to maintain a strong GPS architecture. Going forward, steady funding and meticulous management of GPS acquisitions will be critical to ensuring the GPS constellation meets all user requirements well into the future.

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 27 FOCUS A Software-Based Approach To Airborne COTM Networking author: Peter Carides, CEO + CTO, Tachyon Networks

In April of 2008, the This article describes some of the Department of Defense challenges and solutions to delivering created a new Task Force multi-megabit per second ISR sensor empowered to significantly data from aircraft to Beyond-Line-Of- improve ISR capabilities Sight (BLOS) locations. Specifically, in Iraq and Afghanistan. this article will discuss the benefits of a software-based approach to The unconventional nature of the end-to-end satellite Comms-On- wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan The-Move (COTM) networking. demanded persistent and pervasive ISR Limitations Of Historical COTM capability. A key component of this ISR Solutions capability is airborne networks, which include sensors and communication L-band MSS (Mobile Satellite Services) systems capable of simultaneously providers have offered COTM solutions delivering real-time full-motion video to commercial aviation and maritime (FMV), Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) and markets for decades. These COTM Communications Intelligence (COMINT) offerings have been adapted to to field and command personnel. These Government and Military markets diverse sensor capabilities operating on from the commercial side. The airborne platforms are seen as critical challenges of using commercial MSS to the success of counterinsurgency services for ISR platforms include: operations. They also demand high bandwidth communication »» High cost of network services links from ISR aircraft to users. »» Lower speeds (typically 200 to 400 Kbps) do not match the data volumes of ISR sensors

28 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 » »» The need for a network-centric » Network congestion, which is a FOCUS common occurrence with the shared system that is capable of delivering nature of public networks reliable and secure video, voice and data “on the move” to the battalion »» Network security concerns and company levels with reachback capabilities to the divisional level

Since the licensing of Ku-band FSS and Continental United States Command center (Fixed Satellite Services) for COTM (CONUS) headquarters. services, however, there has been Understanding Military Airborne a growing interest in applying this Networking Requirements broadband satellite technology to military applications. This is due to In working with the Department of its capability of delivering higher data Defense (DoD), prime contractors and rates and greater network capacity the United States military, Tachyon at a much lower cost. Some of the was able to better understand and challenges to widespread deployment of address a broad set of Airborne Airborne Ku-band FSS COTM solutions networking requirements. A few such in military applications include: requirements are listed below:

»» Systems adapted from the »» BLOS Communication systems must be commercial side are aircraft able to handle multiple high data rate download-centric and don’t meet applications simultaneously, such as FMV ISR requirements for increased in HD along with SIGINT and COMINT. upload speeds. »» A global commercial satellite footprint »» The availability of appropriate is necessary to ensure worldwide commercial satellite capacity coverage as required, especially in covering hotspot locations to active hotspots, and specifically in the support the warfighter, especially current war theater. in remote and rugged forward- deployed terrain is limited. »» Airborne communications solutions should achieve commonality »» The ability to transmit and across multiple airborne platforms, receive FMV in High Definition wherever possible, in line with the (HD) video formats, especially DoD’s broader Network Centric in critical ISR missions across Warfare (NCW) goals and Information the globe is limited by the Assurance policies. capabilities of on-board equipment currently deployed. »» Airborne communications should achieve seamless interoperability with

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 29 »

FOCUS existing land mobile and maritime » Airborne COTM equipment communications systems. Preferably, performance, size, weight and power, the Airborne COTM solution should integration with existing aircraft power be adaptable to the forthcoming Joint and navigation systems, and remote Aerial Layer Network (JALN) layer so manageability are of vital importance. as to provide required connectivity to air, maritime and ground users in »» The implementation timeframe for an permissive, contested and anti-access Airborne COTM solution must meet threat environments for sustained and the needs of each DoD initiative/ surge requirements. program, which in some cases, can be very near-term (months not years). »» Link integrity, accuracy, resiliency and A Comprehensive Mobile Net- availability of Airborne COTM systems in working Architecture accordance with FISMA/DIACAP guidelines are absolutely critical and of paramount Tachyon has amassed extensive importance to mission success. product integration capabilities with sophisticated networks and applications across multiple third party platforms, as well as a track record of expertise in applicable COTM technology, including high-speed mobile satellite waveforms.

In response to the urgent requirements of the US military, Tachyon has designed and implemented the aXiom 7300 Integrated Mobile Airborne Network.

Figure 1: The aXiom Concept A Comprehensive Mobile Networking Architecture

30 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 Figure 1 on the previous page ◊ NOC with customized Network FOCUS illustrates the Company’s mobile Management System (NMS) networking vision and how tools as required that increase such fits into the US military’s operational efficiency and customer requirements listed above. visibility, enabling efficient and secure network management on a aXiom end-to-end (E2E) managed 24x7x365 basis network solutions are designed for operation over air, land and sea and incorporate a VSAT mobility architecture that can be tailored to deliver a high- quality custom offering with the following elements:

»» Total E2E solution that focuses on all or any component of each and every facet of the satellite network including integrating and managing remote terminal equipment mounted on board the requisite airborne platform

◊ Connection to the corresponding satellite hub/ teleport, which in some cases is built from scratch

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 31 FOCUS ◊ Financially backed Service Level band, namely, Ku-, Ka- or X-band Agreements (SLA’s) that deliver with significant availability in critical performance and availability areas such as the AfPak Theater guarantees of 99.9 percent »» Software-based ASP that provides ◊ Strong partnerships with trusted, seamless integration and operation of world-class mobility system integrators all the requisite equipment components on-board mobile platforms with E2E ◊ Acquisition and deployment of satellite network services... satellite capacity as required by the COTM application; and, ◊ Web-based Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) for local and remote ◊ Technical support, training, and command, control and configuration maintenance on the use of the E2E of all Airborne networking network or equipment as contracted components on-board the aircraft including modem, router, antenna, »» Truly technology-agnostic integration antenna control unit (ACU) and across every component of the E2E Inertial Reference Unit (IRU) network solution ◊ An integrated virtual machine host ◊ A modular architecture that can be in the aXiom terminal enabling easily customized on a turnkey basis customer-specific applications and to deliver specific solutions in the most services, including virtual network diverse and complex environments hosting with customer-specific routing, tunneling, quality of service ◊ Field-swappable remote terminal (QoS), and so on modem equipment manufactured The Fundamental Philosophy by various industry suppliers and waveform technology suppliers, Figure 2 on the next page illustrates each mounted on-board the the on-board components of the aXiom requisite mobile platform with 7300 Airborne Network solution. matching form factor The ASP is an extensible software platform — the embedded intelligence ◊ Antenna and antenna control units — at the heart of all aXiom network solutions and is used across all of ◊ Satellite hub/teleport interfaces on Tachyon’s remote COTM terminals the ground, which correspond to any and hubs. The ASP enables Tachyon or all of the above-referenced remote to deliver managed services across terminal hardware and includes the the entire OSI layer stack, from the aXiom Services Platform (ASP) antenna and hardware beneath the physical and link layers, through to ◊ Worldwide space segment used by the application layer. The Linux-based the COTM terminal regardless of ASP client resides within the remote operating spectrum or frequency COTM terminal on-board the Airborne

32 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 platform and interoperates seamlessly More significantly, the ASP enables FOCUS with ASP servers at the corresponding several distinctive capabilities: Earth stations and teleport gateways. »» Fast network connectivity using high- ASP Functionality fidelity link performance (<10-10 bit error The aXiom 7300 Airborne Network rate) and patented pre-fetch technologies, solution integrates, operates and for industry-leading IP acceleration. manages multiple vendors’ antenna systems, navigational systems, »» Capabilities include remote field terminal components and Earth station upgrade and net booting. equipment through its software-based ASP. Specifically, the ASP performs all »» Advanced functions for monitoring, of the traditional functions that are reporting and control, including both required to support high-performance real-time reporting and capture and in satellite networking including analysis of historical performance and HTTP acceleration, WAN & TCP/IP trends, both at the NOC and locally by acceleration, MPLS, IP policy routing the customer. using DHCP, NAT, IPv6, DNS, ARP, etc.

Figure 2: aXiom 7300 On-Board Equipment Diagram

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 33 FOCUS In addition, the ASP image is The deployment of a successful engineered into all of Tachyon’s Airborne COTM Network relies COTM terminals via VM Ware installed on an unwavering focus and on a Linux server. New releases of dedication to executing each and ASP software reside alongside the every step of the total E2E solution, existing release on an adjacent Virtual which includes the following: Machine. This feature offers two critical benefits including, ensuring »» Remote CPE: Integration of field- that the ASP is completely stable swappable custom terminal equipment in a transition from one release to on various aircraft platforms, using the next, and that the ASP is readily multiple antennas, ACU’s, IRU’s, transportable to different hardware routers and modems. platforms. This ASP feature empowers the customer with seamless deployment »» Teleport: Designing, building, of new capabilities and a very high installing and testing completely degree of reliability and flexibility. redundant satellite gateways.

The ASP also enables another »» Network Operations Center (NOC): key feature in Tachyon’s suite of Performing seamless 24x7 monitoring E2E solutions — it provides for of all aircraft and teleports from a US- sophisticated management, monitoring based NOC by developing customized and reporting with a range of analytical NMS tools to increase operational tools. This set of tools provides much efficiency and customer visibility. greater visibility into the historic and current performance of the network »» Technical Support: Providing a than is currently available from superior customer support helpdesk most other service providers. This with professional support personnel feature enables Tachyon to operate and manage remote networks more »» Space Segment: Enabling the acquisition efficiently, and to provide customers and deployment of extremely scarce with unprecedented visibility into satellite capacity for COTM their remotely deployed assets. »» Training: Educating military personnel The use of VM Ware in the ASP in the field in the operation of maximizes the use of remote upgrades. airborne satellite systems Taking the needs of the forward deployed warfighter into account, the The Company implemented its first ASP comes with a web-based GUI for Airborne networking platform based local and remote command, control on an initial version of its aXiom and configuration of on-board modem, mobile network architecture for the router, antenna, as well as, the ACU U.S. military in the AfPak Theater of and IRU in the airborne domain. operations. Tachyon was commissioned

34 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 » to design, build and operate an » Need to deploy an E2E network FOCUS Airborne network in Afghanistan, incorporating the Airborne-networking by integrating third party terminals platform on a turnkey basis. aboard C-12 aircraft, to deliver video imagery to commanders on the ground. »» Need for integrated infrastructure/ Tachyon’s E2E solution met the U.S. hubs for air, land and sea operations. military’s short but demanding list of requirements:

»» Ability to support required commercial space segment capacity in-theater.

»» Need for a proven solution with a small form factor terminal that is light, low- AfPak Theater Coverage Map Ku-Band IS-24 power, fits in a compact space, and minimizes resource consumption.

»» Increased bandwidth throughput to support near real-time video feeds.

AfPak Theater Coverage Map Ku-Band IS-26

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 35 Later, in April of 2010, Tachyon also About the author Peter Carides possesses more than

FOCUS successfully demonstrated its aXiom 28 years of experience with a proven 9300 Airborne Terminal by streaming track record in the international wireless full motion video, with sustained telecommunications and satellite return (upload) data rates of 2 Mbps, industries. At Tachyon Networks, Carides lead the company’s turnaround, in flight. The outcome of this effort from a loss of $12m to a profit of $9m was the aXiom 7300 Integrated over the past six years. Overall, the Mobile Airborne Network solution company’s revenues have quadrupled under his leadership and it has been incorporating the aXiom 9300, and profitable and self-funded since 2007. which, using stationary and inclined orbit spacecraft, streams live full- Service coverage areas have also been increased, new products have motion video at data rates of 2 been developed, and more than a Mbps for display in real time on HD dozen new Fortune 500 Enterprises monitoring terminals on the ground. and government agencies have become satisfied customers.

As CEO & CTO, Peter has personally spearheaded the integration of aeronautical, land mobile and maritime capabilities into the company’s solution matrix, resulting in the aXiom 7000 Series of Integrated Mobile Network Solutions aXiom 9300 Terminal Router and the aXiom 9000 Series of Aeronautical Communication Routers.

Today’s broader Government/ Military market has an urgent need for E2E managed network services and equipment that can deliver voice, data, high quality HD FMV, SIGINT and COMINT in real-time and while on the move — all of which are accomplished in the aXiom 7300 solution.

36 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011

FOCUS Field Trials of Mounted Battle Command Ka-band Satcom “On-The-Move” author: Peter Woodhead Director of Business Development, EM Solutions

Increasing broadband SATCOM EM Solutions was awarded a contract On-The-Move (SOTM) is a strategic to develop a Mounted Battle requirement for Network Centric Command Ka-band Satcom On-The- Warfare. Operating at higher Move System under the Australian frequencies is intrinsically linked Defence Force (ADF) Capability to achieving this objective. The and Technology Demonstrator Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) (CTD) Program. The objective was System offers U.S. DoD and Australia to develop a SOTM terminal that — through joint partnership — an was suitable for WGS operation and opportunity to access significantly would allow the ADF to investigate, increased SHF and EHF spectrum. demonstrate, and examine its potential This spectrum access is essential in as a key system supporting the ADF’s realizing broadband SOTM across Network Centric Warfare strategy. a variety of military platforms including air, naval and the more The antenna terminal was designed challenging land mobile. by EM Solutions, with BAE Systems Australia Limited as a major subcontractor. This article offers a brief overview of the antenna terminal,

38 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 Field Trial and then presents some results from discussed further in the FOCUS field tests conducted with the antenna Setup section later in the article. terminal mounted on a Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle (PMV). Secondly, the antenna had to track the satellite to within some allowed Antenna Terminal Overview pointing error. Determination of — Design Aspects the allowed pointing error was not trivial, as a number of factors had The antenna terminal was designed to be considered. These included: to track the Optus-C1 satellite while link budget effects of pointing-loss, mounted on a moving Bushmaster existing regulations for stationary PMV1. WGS operation was not required systems, and interference potential. for the CTD, but was an important consideration at every stage of the After consideration, a design design. Figure 1 shows a picture of target of 0.3 degree maximum the antenna terminal with the radome pointing-error was selected. removed as well as the antenna terminal mounted on the Bushmaster. Two of the earliest design challenges were the selection of the antenna type There were two main requirements and tracking method, and until these driving the design. Firstly, the RF and had been decided upon, design of antenna performance had to support other subsystems could not progress. the required uplink and downlink data A novel implementation of the well rates of 4 Mbps and 1 Mbps under proven parabolic reflector antenna typical operating conditions. This is was selected as such offered the

Figure 1: Views under the radome, and mounting to the Bushmaster PMV

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 39 FOCUS best electromagnetic performance is determined from the satellites (i.e., sidelobe), defined tracking beacon. A closed-loop approach was requirements, and acceptable selected, which allowed the use of a dimensioned constraints. (These were less expensive INU, a lower precision requirements of the CTD project.) mechanical design, and is more robust.

Once the antenna type was selected, With the antenna and tracking the tracking approach could be approaches selected, the rest of considered. There are two main types the antenna terminal could be of tracking. One approach is Inertial designed. Some of the main features Navigation Unit (INU) based tracking, of the antenna terminal include: where a high performance INU is used to determine the vehicle’s position and »» Parabolic reflector in Cassegrain attitude — this information is used configuration to steer the antenna to the satellite. »» Closed-loop tracking using beacon The other approach is closed-loop tracking, where the pointing error »» Proprietary beacon signal processing

»» COTS motors, motor drivers, encoders, gyros

»» Proprietary motion control system implemented in FPGA

»» BUC and LNBs repackaged versions of standard EM Solutions product

Specification for the antenna terminal are offered in Figure 2 on this page.

Figure 2: Specifications for the antenna terminal.

40 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 Operating Modes heading. (The INU does have a FOCUS The antenna terminal has a built in compass. Unfortunately, select number of operating states its performance is degraded by that are visible to the operator the proximity of the antenna Ignoring the power-up mode, positioning motors.) the operating modes are:

In this case, the antenna terminal Command center ◊ Searching continuously uses INU attitude information to calculate the elevation ◊ Tracking

◊ Gyro Holding

Searching The searching mode is basically an open loop tracking mode. It is used for initial acquisition and for re-acquisition when the satellite has not been tracked for extended periods of time. In this mode, the INU is used to determine the vehicle position and attitude, and this information is used to point the antenna toward the satellite.

A limited scan is conducted around the pointing direction calculated from the INU data. If the vehicle is not in motion, the INU cannot accurately determine the vehicle

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 41 Integration With Bushmaster FOCUS angle to the satellite, and then conducts an azimuth scan. Once the beacon Integration of the antenna terminal has been detected, the control system on the Bushmaster was performed by switches over to the tracking mode. BAE. The terminal was fitted to the rear-hatch opening using a temporary Tracking mounting plate. A baseband system In this mode, the beacon is used to was installed inside the vehicle, and estimate the pointing-error, which included an MD-1366 EBEM modem, is then used to continuously steer an Ethernet router, a reference the antenna back to the satellite. oscillator, and a PC for monitoring. If the estimated pointing error is too Satellite services were provided by big, the control system commands DSTO, which included: a digital TV the TX to mute. If the beacon strength video signal streamed to the vehicle; suddenly drops (i.e., due to obstruction video from a forward looking IP by trees), the antenna terminal camera streamed out of the vehicle; switches to gyro holding mode. VoIP services allowing phone calls to be placed and received from Gyro Holding inside the vehicle; and web-based This mode is used to keep the antenna management displays to assist with pointed to the same location in the monitoring terminal performance. sky during periods when the beacon is suddenly lost. This can happen when Link Budgets trees or overhead bridges obstruct the DSTO coordinated satellite and path to the satellite. Once the beacon modem configurations to achieve is reacquired, the antenna terminal various link rates for testing the switches back to tracking mode. SOTM antenna terminal. Figure 3 If the antenna terminal remains on the next page gives the link in gyro holding mode for use-set budgets used for maximum data time, the antenna terminal returns rate and for typical operation during to searching mode. (Once again, the testing. The ADF Ka-band Defence INU does have a built in compass. Payload Segment onboard Optus Unfortunately, its performance is C1 was used for the testing. degraded by the proximity of the antenna positioning motors.) Typical Results To verify correct operation of the — Field Trial Setup antenna terminal relevant internal Field trials were conducted in August 2010, variables were logged, in conjunction with assistance from Defence Science with Google Earth, and correlated with and Technology Organisation (DSTO), location during test drives. This allowed BAE and 8/9 RAR based at Gallipoli visibility of variables such as operating Barracks Enoggera. During field trials, mode, estimated pointing error, beacon the SOTM antenna terminal was operated C/N0, motor torques and GPS location. as the vehicle drove on main highways, suburban roads, dirt roads and off-road.

42 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 Logging GPS information was very This data illustrates some common FOCUS useful, as it allowed correlating obstructions such as trees, light poles events, such as switching out of and overpasses. Between obstructions tracking mode, with obstructions the pointing error was generally less due to trees and bridges. than about 0.06 degrees. During the obstruction, the pointing error in the Highway + Suburban Roads plots should be ignored, as the error Good performance was observed during is based on the beacon signal and this highway driving. Modem events, such is not present during a blockage. as sync-loss and bit errors, were only observed when obstructions were Off Road present. In general, obstruction by Figure 7 shows a typical off-road trees was not a problem on major terrain. As can be seen by comparing highways, as the trees were generally histograms in Figures 5 and 8, pointing back from the road. On suburban performance during off-road testing roads, tree obstruction was common. was not as good as during highway Figure 4 on the next page shows a driving. The pointing error histogram, typical highway used during field shown in Figure 8 is correlated with testing, and Figure 5, also on the the off-road data shown in Figure next page, shows the distribution of 9. Most pointing error recordings are pointing errors during a 2.5 minute less than 0.1 degree, however the period of highway driving. Figure maximum recorded pointing error 6 plots six minutes worth of data recording was nearly 0.2 degrees. gathered during highway driving.

Figure 3: Link budgets for maximum data rate and typical operation.

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 43 FOCUS

Figure 4: Typical highway used in testing.

Figure 5: Histogram of highway pointing areas over a 2.5 minute period with no obstructions.

44 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 Common Obstructions Figure 10 shows data gathered when FOCUS passing under an overpass. Upon — Overpasses encountering the obstruction, the Overpasses were encountered antenna terminal detects a rapid drop frequently during highway driving. in beacon signal power and switches to gyro holding mode (shown as light- blue in plots). Gyro holding keeps the antenna pointed at the satellite’s position, so that after leaving the underpass the antenna terminal can quickly return to tracking mode.

The reacquisition time was typically much less than one second during the field trials, and in many cases this enabled the satellite modem in the PMV and the anchor station to maintain carrier lock through these blockages.

The view of the overpass is illustrated in Figure 11.

Trees and Light Poles Figure 12 shows a typical highway scenario as seen from the Figure 6: Highway performance. Bushmaster PMV,

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 45 FOCUS

Figure 7. Off road terrain.

note the light poles in the view. Trees edge can produce very short term and light poles close to the road obstructions. Figure 13 shows the effect of driving past a series of light poles. In this case, the light poles produced short term reduction in beacon C/N0 (Note: Pointing errors should be ignored). However, the EBEM modem still retains lock with these types of short-term transient interruptions.

Modem bit sync loss was a common occurrence, with a short interruption to data flow. Importantly, carrier lock loss was not common.

Figure 8: Histogram of pointing error for off road data shown in Figure 9.

46 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 Tunnels 45 seconds after exiting the tunnel. FOCUS Tunnels obviously produce an extended It should be noted, however, the blockage to the satellite, and drift of reacquisition process was made more the gyros can result in a significant difficult by the presence of a number antenna mis-pointing when the vehicle of overpasses and large metal overhead exits the tunnel. The actual pointing street signs at the exit of the tunnel. error can be so large that the satellite would not be reacquired. To handle this situation, the antenna terminal switches to search mode after an extended period of gyro holding.

The response to extended blockage during motion was tested by driving the Bushmaster PMV through a 6.8 km tunnel in Brisbane. The tunnel takes approximately four minutes to transit. This satellite blockage is long enough for the antenna terminal to revert to the search mode as the Gyro- hold timeout was set to one minute in field tests. In this particular test, it was observed that the antenna terminal acquired the satellite approximately

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 47 FOCUS The antenna terminal demonstrated downlink data rates of 8Mbps and uplink data rates of 2Mbps on the Optus-C1 satellite.

A standard Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) modem is not the most appropriate waveform for use in an environment that includes blockages. A more burst acquisition nature modem, with shared outbound (to vehicle) carrier, to improve satellite power efficiency, would be preferred.

About the author Peter Woodhead has been directing EM Solutions’ business and product developments since its establishment in 1998. He has 30 years experience in design, manufacturing and service industries including over 20 years in the telecommunications sector, and holds an Engineering Degree Figure 9. Off road results. and MBA in Conclusion marketing.

A Ka-band SOTM antenna terminal has been developed and demonstrated under the Australian CTD program. The antenna terminal has been field tested on a Bushmaster PMV on sealed roads, dirt roads and off road.

48 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 FOCUS

Top—Figure 10: Effects of driving under an overpass. The light-blue background indicates gyro holding periods.

Bottom—Figure 11: Google Earth view of the overpass.

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 49 FOCUS

Top—Figure 12: Image showing the light poles from Figure 13. Taken from forward looking video camera mounting in the Bushmaster.

Bottom—Figure 13: Illustration of effects of light poles beside road.

50 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011

The Atlas Heritage author: jos heyman, FBIS, Tiros Space Information chronicles

One of the main launch original Atlas missile, other vehicles currently in use, the than the name, the Atlas Atlas V, has a long heritage development is considered as commencing in the late forties. a good example of incremental This article summarizes the technology development. various developments that led to the current launch vehicle Early Experiments and, as the current Atlas V Although the development of the has little in common with the Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile did not commence until 1951, the “thin skin” tank, which had to be pressurized at all times, had been developed in the late forties for the Convair MX-774 missile.

The MX-774 had a length of 9.93m and a diameter of 0.76m and was powered

An Atlas V launch, photos courtesy of United Launch Alliance Convair MX-774 missile

52 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 by four Thiokol solid fueled motors. X-11 and X-12 The first launch was on July 13, 1948, The subsequent X12 was a 1-1/2 stage with further launches on September rocket ballistic test vehicle for the SM65 27, 1948, and December 2, 1948. . The program was initiated in chronicles 1953 in parallel with the X11 and was a Further studies were conducted as three engine version, with three North MX-1593, commencing in January American XLR43NA5 rocket engines. 1951 and, later that year, the military designation XB-65 was assigned to the project.

By 1953, the initial design studies had been completed and envisaged a vehicle with five engines. It was decided to develop a single engined test vehicle powered by a North American XLR43-NA-5 rocket engine and designated as X-11. Some reference sources have suggested that the X11 program covered only one flight, i.e., the prototype of the Atlas A, which was launched on June 11, 1957. The Atlas A, however, was equipped with three engines rather than the single engine that was specified for the X11.

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 53 Atlas Some reference sources have suggested the X-12 covered the second Atlas A As a missile, the Atlas carried military flight, which was launched from Cape designations XSM-65A (Atlas A), Canaveral XSM-65B Atlas B XSM-65C chronicles on September 25, 1957, ( ), (Atlas and was destroyed during the flight. C), XSM-65D, SM-65D and USM-65D The suggestion that this flight was the (Atlas D), SM-65E and USM-65E X-12 is certainly incorrect and neither (Atlas E) and SM-65F (Atlas F). On the X-11 nor X-12 was ever flown. September 18, 1962, those missiles remaining in service were redesignated The five engine XB-65 version never as CIM-16D (was SM65D0, CTM-16D materialized as nuclear warheads (was USM-65D), CGN-16E (was had become lighter in weight. SM-65E), CTM-16E (was USM-65E) The initial prime contractor of the and HGM-16F (was SM-65F). Atlas was Convair, which later became General Dynamics. As a military missile, substantial numbers of the Atlas were built, In 1994, the rights to the Atlas launch but due to their slow response vehicle were sold to Martin Marietta, time when under attack, they were which merged with Lockheed in gradually replaced by Titan and 1995 to become Lockheed Martin. Minuteman missiles. The Atlas missiles which became available due to this changeover were then used as launch vehicles, either

Military Atlas launch vehicle designations

54 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 by themselves or in combination with an upper stage. Additionally, development of the missile as a

dedicated launch vehicle continued. chronicles

In addition to the military missile

designations, the basic Atlas first stage Command center received military designations in the LV/SLV and SB series. Table 1 lists these designations — as far as the cross references to the launch vehicle types are concerned, there remain discrepancies in this list. It is probable these designations were only used for flights carrying military satellites.

As a missile, the first launch of an Atlas A missile took place on June 11, 1957, as part of a series of eight test flights from Cape Canaveral — only four were successful. This was followed by 10 launches of the Atlas B missile, of which four were failures, and six Atlas C flights, of which two failed.

The Atlas D version was the initial production version. Known military serials indicate 121 Atlas D missiles were built. The missile test program lasted until January 23, 1961, and involved 49 launches, of which six failed, eight were partially successful and 35 were successful. The final flight was on November 7, 1967.

The use of the missile as a space launcher started on September 9, 1959, and of the 18 launches, four failed and two were sub-orbital. The last launch was on July 27, 1967.

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 55 These basic missiles were fitted with The Atlas E was launched successfully for an additional upper stage and have the first time on January 24, 1961. Known also been referred to as Atlas Satar. serials indicate that 203 missiles were built.

chronicles Those Atlas D launch vehicles used in the Mercury program were also In the ‘80s, surplus Atlas E missiles, referred to as Atlas-Mercury and which had a length of 28.10m, were could place payloads of 1360 kg into used as space launch vehicles after a low orbit. The remainder of the having been fitted with an additional Atlas D missiles were used as first upper stage, allowing them to place stages in the Atlas configurations a 820 kg payload into a low orbit. with the Agena, Able and Centaur upper stages, although the actual Between December 18, 1981, and disposition is not known. March 24, 1995, a total of 25 flights were made, of which two failed.

An Atlas D missile being trailored for its move from its above ground launcher.

56 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 The remainder of the Atlas E missiles flight program. The Trident missile were used as first stages in the Atlas was a three stage missile and it is configurations the Agena, Able and not clear from references which

Centaur upper stages, although the stage (or all) was used for the chronicles actual disposition is not known. Atlas F/Trident launch vehicle.

For two sub-orbital flights, the basic The Atlas A, B, C, D, E and F were Atlas E was also fitted with a Trident powered by two Rocketdyne missile as an upper stage. The Trident LR89-NA-5 and one Rocketdyne missile was a three stage missile LR-105-NA-5 rocket engines and, and it is not clear from references where appropriate, a second stage. which stage (or all) was used for the Atlas E/Trident launch vehicle. The Atlas G version was to be powered by the further improved Rocketdyne The Atlas F differed from the LR89-NA-7 and one Rocketdyne Atlas E by having a modified fuel LR-105-NA-7 engines. The Atlas system. The version was launched G was specifically developed as a successfully for the first time on first stage for the Atlas Centaur August 8, 1961. Known serials combination and was not flown as a indicate 122 missiles were built. launch vehicle without the upper stage.

Surplus military missiles were fitted The Atlas H version had engines with an additional upper stage and similar to the Atlas G and was were used as space launch vehicles used five times between February from April 6, 1968, to June 23, 1981. 9, 1983, and May 15, 1987, as a They had a payload capacity of 820 kg space launch vehicle for payload of into a low orbit. A total of 20 flights up to 3630 kg into a low orbit. were made, of which one was a failure. The Atlas SLV-3 was a version of the The remainder of the Atlas F basic Atlas (probably Atlas D) without missiles were used as first stages an upper stage used to launch the for the Agena, Able, Burner Prime SV5D re-entry test vehicles into and Centaur upper stages. a sub-orbital flight trajectory. Three flights took place between December A number of Atlas F missiles were 21, 1966, and April 19, 1967. fitted with a Trident missile as upper Atlas Able stage and used in a sub-orbital To increase the launch capability, the Atlas D basic stage was combined

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 57 with the Able IV and V upper second stage was to have been stages developed by Aerojet and propelled by a General Electric GE Allegheny Ballistic Laboratories 405H liquid fueled engine (similar to Vanguard chronicles for the launch vehicle. the one used for the first stage of the After three failed flights between Vanguard), while a third stage was to November 26, 1959, and December be propelled by a liquid fueled engine 15, 1960 it became evident that to be developed by the Jet Propulsion the Atlas Able combination was not Laboratory. An orbiting capability of successful and further development 2270 kg into a low orbit was envisaged. was abandoned. The length of the vehicle was up to 35 m and it would At one stage it was intended to use have been capable to launch a the Atlas Vega for seven lunar fly-bys, payload of 170 kg into a low orbit. a Mars fly-by in October of 1960, a Venus fly-by in January of 1961, a Atlas Vega lunar hard lander in July 1961, a lunar The Atlas Vega was a proposed satellite in September of 1961, a Venus development of the Atlas Able. The lander and orbiter in August of 1962 and a Mars lander in November of 1962. It was also considered as the launch vehicle for the Mercury Mk II, later Gemini, crewed spacecraft.

Basic Atlas launch summary

58 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 between February 26, 1960, and The first flight was envisaged in January 31, 1961, of which two failed. August 1960 but development was It had a maximum length of 31.10 m.

cancelled on December 11, 1959, in chronicles favor of the Atlas Agena B vehicle. The Atlas Agena B introduced an The cause of the failure was the delay improved and longer Agena engine. in development, by which time the Between July 12, 1961, and June 7, development of the Centaur upper 1966, 28 were launched, of which five stage was proceeding successfully. failed. The combination, which had a length of up to 33m, was capable Atlas Agena of placing a payload of 2627 kg into The Atlas D first stage was also low orbit. Commencing with the Atlas mated with the Lockheed Agena Agena B, NASA procured launch upper stage, which had been vehicles directly from the contractor developed for the US military and not through the U.S. Air Force. reconnaissance satellite programs. The Atlas Agena D combination, with The Atlas Agena A combination was a length of up to 35m, was capable capable of placing a 490 kg payload of orbiting payloads of up to 2718 into orbit and four were launched

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 59 Atlas Burner II kg. The first flight was on July 12, 1963, and until the last flight on April The Atlas F was matched with the 8, 1978, 76 were launched, of which Burner II upper stage. The vehicle had

chronicles five failed. Many of these launches an orbiting capacity of 215 kg into low placed multiple satellites into orbit. orbit and between August 16, 1968, and February 24, 1979, three flights Atlas Antares II Command center were conducted, of which one failed. The Atlas launch vehicle was also Atlas Centaur combined with an Antares-II solid fueled sounding rocket as upper stage. The Centaur upper stage was initially It was used on May 22, 1965, for a developed by General Dynamics to sub-orbital flight designated as Fire-2. place military communications satellites into orbit. This upper stage was fitted with two Pratt & Whitney RL-10A-3

An Atlas E missile at its launch facility. The square ventillators in the photo’s foreground indicate the location of the underground launch control and command.

60 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 rocket engines. When the program The next prototype was the Atlas was cancelled, the launcher was Centaur B. Only one was flown on handed over for civilian use by NASA. November 27, 1963. Three Atlas Centaur C launch vehicles were flown chronicles The first stage was based on surplus between June 30, 1964, and March 2, military Atlas D, E and F missiles. The 1965, but only one was successful.

Atlas G was also used as a first stage The Atlas Centaur D was the first Command center after all Atlas D, E, and F first stages production version of which 24 were had been depleted. These first stages flown between August 11, 1965, only differed in minor detail and no and August 21, 1972. Two of these information is known to match the were failures. Six examples of the missile’s originated first stage with the Atlas Centaur D1A were flown Atlas Centaur launch vehicle, the latter between April 6, 1973, and May being identified by an AC number only. 22, 1975. One of these failed.

The Centaur upper stage allowed the The next version was the Atlas combination, which had a length of up Centaur D1AR, which flew for the first to 38m, depending on the size of the time on September 26, 1975. Thirty- payload bay, to have an initial orbiting three were launched up to September capability of 4670 kg into low orbit 25, 1989, including two failures. but this has been improved over time. Since then, the Atlas Centaur has In two instances (viz. the Pioneer-10 been referred to as simply Atlas I and -11 launches) a further Thiokol or Atlas II. The reason for the name TE-M-364 upper stage was carried. change — other than for marketing purposes — is not known. The Atlas Centaur A version was the prototype of which one was launched The Atlas I was similar to the earlier on May 8, 1962. The launch failed. Atlas Centaur and had a length of up

Atlas + upper stage launch summary

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 61 to 43.90m, depending on the payload kg into low orbit. Thirteen were bay employed. It had a capability to launched between December 7, place 3,630 kg into a low orbit. 1991, and October 9, 1998.

chronicles The first stage engines were comprised of two Rocketdyne LR89-NA-7 and The Atlas IIA introduced an improved one Rocketdyne LR-105-NA-7. engine on the Centaur stage (two The first flight designated as such Pratt & Whitney RL-10A-4), was on July 25, 1990, and 11 were thereby increasing the orbiting launched until April 25, 1997. Two of capability to 7280 kg into low these were failures. Some sources use orbit. It had a length of 47.40m. the number ‘1’ to indicate this version, but formal sources (i.e., Lockheed Another major change was the deletion Martin) use the Roman numeral. of the two small Rocketdyne LR101 The basic Atlas II had an improved vernier engines, which had been engines (two Rocketdyne RS-56-OBA used on previous versions to provide and one Rocketdyne RS-56-OSA) directional control during the launch. as well as a larger tankage. With Instead a hydrazine roll control system a length of up to 47.40m, the orbiting capability was up to 6580

Atlas Centaur launch summary

62 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 was fitted. The first flight was on August 3, 199,4 and 20 flights were conducted until December 5, 2002. chronicles The Atlas IIAS incorporated two Thiokol Castor solid fueled boosters, which were attached to the first stage. This enhanced the orbiting capability to as much as 8610 kg into low orbit. The length was 47.40m. The first flight was on December 16, 1993 and 30 were launched until August 31, 2004.

Atlas IIIA

Initially known as Atlas IIAR, the Atlas III differed from the traditional Atlas II launch vehicle in that the first stage was propelled by a single Energomash RD-180 engine. The RD-180 was expected to be more reliable than the traditional Atlas. Matched with the Centaur upper stage. it was capable to deliver 8640 kg into a low orbit.

For the Atlas IIIA version. the Centaur An Atlas III launch stage was fitted with a single engine. The length of the launch vehicle was 51.88m. The first flight of an The Atlas AIIIB was similar to the Atlas Atlas IIIA was on May 24, 2000 IIIA, except that the Centaur stage had and only two were launched. two engines. The launch vehicle had a length of 53.10m and the first flight was on February 21, 2002, and to the close of 2008, four were launched.

Atlas V basic specifications

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 63 Atlas V stage is common and will be used in all the various configurations of the Atlas The latest development of the Atlas V family. The stretched Centaur also Atlas V chronicles vehicle is the (there was no will be common across the Atlas V fleet. Atlas IV) to meet the U.S. Air Force’s The total length of the launch vehicle is Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle 58.28m with the type 4 payload fairing, (EELV) program requirements. and 62.18m with the type 5 payload The feature that sets the Atlas V fairing. The different configurations apart is the new rigid body Common are achieved via different sizes of Core Booster (CCB) that serves as the payload bays as well as the number of rocket’s first stage. The CCB replaces solid-fueled rockets strapped to the the “balloon” pressure-stabilized stage used by previous Atlas vehicles. The

Atlas V versions

64 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 Atlas V Versions The first Atlas V flight was on August 21, 2002,

and to mid July of 2010, chronicles a total of 21 flights of the various versions have been conducted. Not all the listed versions have flown as of this writing.

Future Developments

The future of the Atlas V launch vehicle as one of the two mainstays of the U.S. space effort (the other being the Delta IV) is fairly Mercury Atlas after booster separation. well assured. The new launch vehicles currently under development (such first stage. In addition, the number as Falcon 9) may make a small impact of Centaur engines can be varied. on the market share enjoyed by the Atlas V, but are unlikely to jeopardize There are three distinct versions of the on-going use of the Atlas V. Atlas V rockets — the 400 series, 500 series and Heavy — each dedicated to About the author launching a certain class of satellite Jos Heyman is the cargo into orbit. In this designation, Managing Director of the first digit indicates the payload Tiros Space Information, a Western Australian bay (4m or 5m), the second digit consultancy specializing the number of strap-ons, and the in the dissemination third digit the number of engines of information on the scientific exploration on the Centaur upper stage. and commercial application of space for use by educational as well as commercial organisations. An accountant by profession, Jos is the editor of the TSI News Bulletin.

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 65 FOCUS Long Distance Force Protection author: Rodger Von Kries, Vice President, Technomad

Command center The military has long relied Today, military communications, on satellites for long-distance or MILSATCOM systems, are still in communications. The success of place to inform and protect military the early satellite trial phases personnel. MILSATCOM systems in the mid 20th century led to are aligned with various bands of increasing reliance of the satellite electromagnetic spectrum to deliver infrastructure to dependably provide such information. This includes deliver information to distant the X-band, a microwave radio band military bases over free space. that lives in the 7.0 to 11.2 GHz frequency range; and the Ka-band,

66 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 which falls into the FOCUS 26.5 to 40 GHz range.

There is also the UHF, or ultra-high frequency band, more popularly known for its role in Command center terrestrial (over-the-air) television delivery but sometimes used for military satellite communications. The U.S. military reserves the right to use the 1452-1492 MHz chunk of the UHF spectrum. The common aspect of these different bands of spectrum is that they are all reliable for the delivery of voice and data over free space, from point to point or one point to many.

IP Enters The Mix

It is established that plenty of bandwidth exists in a typical long-distance satellite connection to deliver voice and data. Increasingly, these systems are interfacing with Ethernet and fiber links to provide both redundant and/or first-mile it is simple to reliably “hand off” and last-mile connections. a communications signal from an IP-based system or network to a Audio over IP is ideal for streaming live MILSATCOM system. The combination audio from a source to a target, both provides a powerful solution for separately and in combination with multipoint communications and/ satellite links. IP-based technologies or extending the reach of a have matured to the point where point-to-point connection.

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 67 FOCUS The challenge is in maintaining a instead of requiring a continuous, open consistent live, working connection IP connection to stream live audio. for streaming data and audio over Central Control IP. Whether for everyday operations or emergency situations, the remote Military bases using audio playback connection suffers if plagued by systems such as the Technomad occasional dropouts and temporary SuperConductor have the option outages. This becomes a potential of informing base personnel of the safety hazard if a live or recorded day’s events through a series of voice message streamed in real-time announcements, either triggered goes silent due to a poor connection. manually or on a scheduled basis. The option to repeat the message any An alternative solution for remote number of times exists for important satellite communications is to use but non-critical announcements as the same technology for distributing well as for emergency situations. commands. These CGI-based commands are useful for triggering The latter is an ideal example of how tones, alarms, announcements and such technology can benefit warfighters other audio as single events or and distant military bases receiving repeated messages. This strategy information from U.S.-based unit temporarily opens the connection to control centers over a MILSATCOM trigger an event at the remote base(s) system. The ability to advise patrol teams and even local citizens of hostile movements, MOPP conditions, and other dangerous situations, is critical to force protection and mass notification — essentially, for saving lives.

The ability to trigger these announcements, tones and other warning signals locally from distant unit control centers ensures reliability of playback. The use of the CGI command as a data stream instead of streaming live audio also preserves bandwidth, making more efficient use of the existing space in the larger MILSATCOM system.

Military PA System in use in Afghanistan. Photo courtesy of Technomad

68 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 FOCUS This can be achieved for multiple locations with the appropriate playback systems, with few human and time-related resources required. But what happens when the command is recognized and the audio event is triggered? It’s at this point that the

MilPA system installed on a Humvee, photo: Technomad quality of the audio becomes Remote Base Systems relevant. Bases with harsh sounding horn systems The momentary IP connection required will produce tinny and distorted to send a CGI command is enabled from audio that is difficult to comprehend. the unit command center. If the remote Horn designs frequently have narrow playback system allows scheduling coverage angles, behaving like an (such as the SuperConductor), acoustic “spotlight.” Those directly military personnel at the command in line with the horn are blasted with center can use the same command sound while those to either side of the to set up an events in advance. horn cannot hear the message clearly.

Once the connection is made, High-clarity PA systems with the the operator would access a web appropriate end point (loudspeakers) interface, enter the appropriate and infrastructure components passwords, schedule the event and (amplifiers, mixers) will ensure that quickly disconnect. The playback the message sent from the unit control system would trigger the event at the center is loud and clear. Most remote schedule time, allowing for a very bases will simply require turnkey efficient use of satellite resources. systems with several loudspeakers to

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 69 cover something in the area of one square mile, although networked Giant Voice PA systems may be designed to cover much larger spaces. The latter can also double as a public safety system for local citizens. Command center Connecting The Dots

Setting up such a system at the remote base should be relatively simple. In most cases, the playback The TechnoMad SuperConductor unit system would exist as 1RU component and live in a signal processing rack with additional infrastructure and Protection from the elements is a networking equipment. Local military final but important consideration. personnel would also have access Military technology is nearly worthless to the system to manually trigger without ruggedness and durability. warnings in critical situations. Weatherproof loudspeakers are ideal for outdoor installations to cope with The delivery of the warning tone rain, snow, sleet, and water ingression. or message to the loudspeaker Likewise, outdoor loudspeakers should points can be handled over cabled be able to withstand the blowing dust infrastructure using Ethernet, twisted and dirt of a desert environment. pair, or optical fiber lines; or wirelessly Equipment that cannot survive the using RF transmission. In larger rigors of wind, impact and other abuse systems, Ethernet connections add will not last long in the military or the benefit of zone-control to stream in other challenging installations. audio to specific areas in a facility. The goal of military satellite Announcements and warnings can communications is to supply be fanned out further by tying in a information to military units that land-mobile radio system. This allows lack a reliable means of terrestrial patrol units at the base to connect communication. The proliferation to the central PA using handheld of IP-based technologies can radio, adding another local element now provide more power and of force protection to the mix. The diversity to MILSATCOM systems brains of the system can live inside to further enhance protection the same signal processing rack as for military personnel serving at the audio playback and infrastructure remote bases around the world. systems to create a clean, centralized and fully realized local PA system.

70 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011

Philip Harlow President & COO COMMAND CENTER XTAR, LLC

Philip Harlow was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of XTAR, LLC, on June 1, 2010. He is responsible for the growth and strategic direction of XTAR’s Government business, overseeing the management, marketing and technical aspects of the company. Previously, Mr. Harlow worked as Chief Technology Officer for CapRock Communications (since acquired by Harris Corp). In that role, Mr. Harlow was responsible for all aspects of engineering, IT, infrastructure development, new product management and strategic planning.

Prior to CapRock, Mr. Harlow was Vice President of Engineering and Technology at DRS Technical Services, provider of satellite, terrestrial and enterprise-wide network communications services. He joined DRS in 2006 from Intelsat General where he served as Vice President of Engineering following the acquisition of PanAmSat.

Before joining PanAmSat/G2, Mr. Harlow was instrumental in the PanAmSat acquisition and integration of Esatel Communications, where he served as Vice President for Business Development. Mr. Harlow also worked at Loral Orion as Director for Sales Engineering supporting the North America Sales Group.

Mr. Harlow graduated from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, United Kingdom, and holds an honors degree in Electronic Systems Engineering from the Royal Military College of Science. He also has a Masters degree in Systems Engineering from The George Washington University.

72 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 in crafting that winning solution. winning that crafting in part crucial a played together who vendors multiple by supported DRS, at team my to awarded 350, TO was contract that on X-band for order task first The 2007. in contract the to X-band added finally DSTS-G when DRS at was I vehicles. contract right the on capacity their get to hard very worked team XTAR The was. need the where that’s because — theaters Afghanistan and Iraq the support to specifically spacecraft two our deployed and online, came programs those until capacity available in gap a saw Company The programs. TSAT and WGS for times lead expected the and DSCS, on operation in already were that terminals X-band those supporting of aim the with frequencies, X-band on focused course, of XTAR, region. the in capacity the augment to laid were plans and XTAR, became that partnership fledgling the including operators, satellite major the all by recognized was This region. the in capacity of shortage a in result would Ku-band commercial of take-up of rate the that clear became quickly it and capacity, Ku-band deployed of terms in region underserved an was Afghanistan then, Even 2001. in region the entered troops first the since Afghanistan and Iraq for solutions develop to helping been have I Philip Harlow you do experience and history What MilsatMagazine (MSM) have with commercial sales of X-band, X-band, of sales commercial with have for example with CapRock, and how how and CapRock, with example for will that benefit the government users? government the benefit that will for continued XTAR expansion. XTAR continued for foundation the lay to and growth, foster to sets, customer multiple of needs expanding the feed to continue will establish helped have I that platforms The X-band. available commercially of deployment the in and Military) British the in time my (from X-band of use the of forefront the at been have to proud I’m years, few past the over back Looking frequencies. these of advantages unique the leverage to how understood that base customer the and X-band with experience of deal great a gaining and orders task subsequent of number a winning marketplace, the in foothold strong a gained CapRock customers. government its serve to X-band for need a identified Solutions Government CapRock CapRock, at time my During and advantages as a resource. resource. a as advantages and strengths X-band’s of aware becoming are people more and More frequency. satellite other any almost to compared cases, of number large a in X-band using for reason compelling a and preference natural a see I enabler. mission valuable this of most the make users helping for and X-band, available commercially for market the developing in play to role critical a has Company the that believe and marketplace, this about bullish very am I Philip Harlow commercially for see you do role What MSM available X-band and how do you see see you do how and X-band available that evolving over the next 1-3 years? 1-3 next the over evolving that MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 73

COMMAND CENTER It is probably more useful to think Remember that this is a resource that in longer terms than 1-3 years when has only recently become available, and talking about the future impact already there is a significant uptake of commercially available X-band. of capacity. Certainly, there are gaps in the global coverage on the

COMMAND CENTER commercial side, but typically they can be fulfilled by using WGS capabilities. The Company has expansion plans to help fill those holes, but we are not here to compete with integral military assets. We’re here to augment and provide support when those assets cannot meet those requirements.

Of course as we plan future expansion, discussions with military planners will be key. XTAR is eager to engage military planners and policy makers in dialogue, both directly and through industry forums such as the Satellite Industry Association. We want to be

74 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 ready to support the next conflict, We have another obstacle to overcome wherever and whenever that might — the military perception that be. I think commercially available commercial means C-band or Ku-band X-band has an important role to only, and that X-band is a military- play in this strategic planning. only asset. Users do not recognize

MSM COMMAND CENTER

What is the relationship between military users and commercial X-band providers, and how would you like to improve on this to better meet the mission requirements of the user? Philip Harlow

Providers of commercially available X-band have delivered strong performance to military users in Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite this positive record, users do not have strong awareness of commercially available X-band and its capabilities.

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 75 that industry has several sources for Since the DoD continually rotates commercially available X-band, all decision makers in and out of key of which bring a unique, commercial posts as promotions and Permanent and government-oriented capability Changes of Station (PCSs) take place, to the table. The mission of the the relationship with X-band providers providers is focused on fulfilling can be very challenging. The diffusion

COMMAND CENTER requirements for the U.S. military of knowledge about commercially first and foremost. The bottom line available X-band is not and cannot is that we cannot sell a transponder be as thorough as we would like. to the next broadcaster that comes Satellite, although an important mission along — we don’t have that outlet. enabler, is really a fairly small part of the overall military communications Understanding and supporting the picture. This means that we are military’s and government’s mission constantly engaged in an education success is key to our future and gives and reeducation program, to ensure us a very strong connection to the that this valuable mission resource military. We cannot afford to deviate is employed to the fullest extent. from that. We must enhance this very strong connection, and show the user that we have a vested interest in the success of their missions.

Combatant Command Reach

76 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 MSM the big winners are the government Can you explain how XTAR’s highly users who get more for their money responsive and reliable service and can count on strong support supports the users with whom you on their way to mission success. work directly and those who receive MSM service through integrators? COMMAND CENTER Philip Harlow Please explain what benefits users have seen from XTAR’s relationship XTAR will distinguish itself in the with HISDESAT of Spain, and what market in various ways. Providing new developments are on the service on a unique part of the horizon through this partnership? frequency spectrum is one way in Philip Harlow which we do that. Just as important, is how we support the user’s mission HISDESAT’s stake in XTAR is an by understanding where we fit into important aspect to the continued the value chain and providing a highly growth of the company. They are a efficient service. The Company is source of operational support in that working hard to give customers easy they host and maintain some key TT&C access to our space segment. That uplink sites. They are also an important means working with the government reseller of the Company’s capacity, and integrators to establish as many and if taken collectively, they are one teleports/access points as possible. It of our largest customers, growing also means establishing contracting their use of XTAR capacity significantly options which are efficient and flexible. every year. This clearly demonstrates Commercial X-band is very often that they are fully behind the Company used to support surge requirements and the business model we have, are for testing, demos and to support committed to our success, and have short-notice or short-term a wide-reaching capability to bring operations. For that reason, XTAR’s our capacity to a growing number objective is to make it as easy as of customers across the globe. possible for customers to get onto Perhaps most importantly, they see our bandwidth with little delay. XTAR as a long-term venture. This means both the initial investment, but We measure our success by the success also the time and effort they put into of those with whom we do business. In the continued growth of the Company, the case of those who wrap our services working with their customer base to into a broader solution, integrators, grow capacity sales through a number that is, we go out of our way to support of channels not directly available to their business by doing what we do well XTAR. They are a strong partner, and — operating satellites and providing fully vested in our continuing growth easy access to quality space segment and success — they truly see our — and helping them to do what they do success as their success, and they are well — assembling solutions targeted consequently great partners to have. at specific requirements. In the end,

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 77 MSM We’re working with our customers XTAR has two satellites which and partners to determine the cover a very large and important market opportunity and to develop portion of the globe. Please tell us the business plans that will enable about your plans to expand that us to pursue the next stage of the coverage so you can provide service Company’s growth. This includes

COMMAND CENTER to more users in other regions. additional coverage of SWA, Africa and Philip Harlow the Asia-Pacific region. This could mean a new spacecraft, or a hosted Growth is a key factor for XTAR in the payload on someone else’s spacecraft. future. We have already seen a large Both are still under consideration. spread of the mission support being We are also considering whether we requested by customers. It is becoming remain a wholly X-band provider, or more geographically diverse. We’re bring military Ka-band frequencies also being asked to support smaller or UHF frequencies into operation. remote VSATs with higher date rates, If we do decide to go that route, we on moving platforms on HUMVEEs, must decide in which region(s) we on airborne assets and even on fast will bring those payloads to bear? moving, rigid raider-type assault boats. What this means is we need There’s a lot to think about as we plan more capacity, more powerful beams our future, but certainly we’re bullish to support the smaller antenna sizes about the market, and feel we’re well we’re being asked about, and a greater positioned for growth. The partnership geographic reach than we have today. is fully supportive of our ambitions, and is bringing their considerable influence to the market. All in all, the future looks bright for XTAR, and we’re optimistic about our prospects.

XTAR satellite, image courtesy of SS/L

78 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 79 The Little — But Powerful The XTS-50X-B1 provides more than 32 — X-band BUC watts of linear output power as defined for the WGS system in a 10.5 lb self- The new Comtech Xicom XTS-50X-B1 cooled feedmount outdoor package that DISPATCHES block upconverter (BUC) packs the most operates in tough environments up to punch into a 10.5 lb box that’s ever been 60°C. This high linear output power level seen at X-band. This compact and highly is achieved for both single carrier and capable unit provides 50 watts of 1-dB multi-carrier performance. compressed power in a 5.7” x 4.4” x 10.6” box that can be antenna mounted. This unit accepts a 950-1450 MHz L-band The BUC is designed to handle tough input, upconverts it to 7.9 – 8.4 GHz X-band, environments and meet the stringent RF and amplifies the signal to achieve the full requirements of X-band systems. output power. Its rich feature set includes temperature compensation, gain control, harmonic filtering, tight gain variation and stability, serial RS-232/422/485 digital monitor and control interface, and options for operating from either 20-32 VDC or 35-52 VDC prime power.

With this new BUC capability, SATCOM integrators will be able to offer their customers the highest X-band data rates possible in the smallest packages. Now that’s powerful!

Comtech Xicom Technology, Inc. was established in 1991 in the heart of Silicon Valley. Xicom provides rugged, efficient With the advent of new commercial and and reliable Traveling Wave Tube Amplifiers military X-band systems, significantly more (TWTAs), Klystron Power Amplifiers (KPAs), bandwidth is available at X-band. This Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPAs), and new capacity is being used to alleviate Block Upconverters (BUCs) for commercial the severe overcrowding seen on Ku-band and military applications around the world. systems from Southwest Asia to Europe to A broad array of products are available for North America. The XTS-50X-B1 enables fixed locations and mobile platforms. integrators to offer highly compact — Heidi Thelander transportable SATCOM terminals that take advantage of Xstar and WGS to provide Website: www.xicomtech.com much higher data rates than in the past. Phone: +1 408 213 3000

80 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 ViaSat Receives Green and reduces the Department of Defense’s ($13.8 Million) To Provide total operational expenditure for the A Blue Force specified capability. DISPATCHES ViaSat Inc. has received delivery orders With BFT-2, network users can achieve real- from PM Force XXI Battle Command time position accuracy by operating through Brigade and Below totaling $13.8 million a Ground Vehicular Transceiver or Aviation under its Blue Force Tracking 2 (BFT-2) Transceiver to one of up to ten satellite IDIQ contract. These contracts include channels back to a Satellite Ground Station the installation and test of production (SGS). The average round-trip message latency satellite ground station and satellite through the network has been demonstrated network control center equipment as well and proven to be less than 2 seconds. as L-band bandwidth leasing, network ground equipment, and thousands The ViaSat BFT-2 network offers situational of additional production vehicular awareness updates and increased data transceivers. These next generation BFT-2 throughput. The next generation BFT-2 network systems are designed to enable much is expected to improve situational awareness faster situational awareness updates and latency from minutes to just seconds. higher transmission speeds. The new BFT-2 system is derived from ViaSat mobile satellite communication technology, which enables fast, efficient network access using very small antennas. These systems provide communications-on-the- move (COTM) service to both military and commercial customers.

Website: http://www.viasat.com

Selected to upgrade the US Army and Marine Corps Blue Force Tracking network, ViaSat brings real-time situational awareness and better networking capabilities to the warfighter with BFT-2. ViaSat’s next- generation Blue Force Tracking transceivers provide dramatic improvements in situational awareness through faster Position Location Information (PLI) refresh rates and greater information throughput features. This BFT-2 system delivers improved network efficiency

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 81 PA-Based Protection Achieving FAT RAIDRS

Technomad is now shipping its new Integral Systems, Inc.’s Military and SuperConductor v2.0 mp3 playback Intelligence Group (MIG) has achieved DISPATCHES and recording system for military an important program milestone. applications. SuperConductor v2.0 adds They successfully completed Factory new features that include the ability Acceptance Testing (FAT) of the Rapid to record field audio and immediately Attack Identification, Detection and schedule the files for playback from a Reporting System (RAIDRS) Block front-knob position — without the need 10 (RB-10) program. The successful for a computer or web browser. (See the testing paves the way for the system’s “Long Distance Force Protection” article deployment and activation. in this issue of MilsatMagazine.) Integral Systems is the RAIDRS RB-10 The original SuperConductor is used in program prime contractor. RAIDRS is a fixed and mobile applications around ground-based defensive counterspace the world, including combat simulation, program. The system will provide near mass notification, emergency messaging, real-time event detection, characterization, and general military training exercises. geolocation and Electromagnetic Potential applications include playing Interference (EMI) reporting for critical Reveille daily at 0600, hourly safety satellite communications systems, directly announcements, local-language messages, supporting combatant commanders. The sirens and alerts, combat simulation, United States Air Force’s 16th Space Control training, and ceremonial music for Squadron (SPCS) operates RAIDRS from command changes. Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, and is assigned to the 21st Space Wing. SuperConductor v2.0 builds on the original playback and scheduling features, adding the ability to schedule recorded field audio for immediate or future playback from the internal sound library. Another key new design feature is Local Configuration Mode, which allows the user front-panel access to all functions, eliminates the need to use a computer for managing sound files, and offers password protection. The unit also integrates an IP-based timeserver that automatically synchronizes the unit’s clock with the timesaver once a day. Master Sgt. Eric Gemmell adjusts the support system of a Transportable Antenna System while Capt. Joseph Fixemer directs the leveling of the system. The antenna is a component of the Rapid Attack Identification De- tection Reporting System, or RAIDRS, at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. RAIDRS is the new defensive coun- terspace weapon system for 2010.

82 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 Emergency Enterprise Earthy Radar

Lubbock County Texas is using Harris Corporation has been awarded a Spacenet’s high-performance satellite 30-month, $42 million contract by Sierra DISPATCHES communications services and equipment Nevada Corporation to supply antenna and to support critical communications radar electronics for a satellite that will across the state. provide military commanders in the field with timely, high-resolution radar imagery of Spacenet’s transportable antennas and the Earth’s surface — regardless of weather Connexstar S2 satellite services, based on conditions or time of day. the SkyEdge II VSAT platform, are being used to provide emergency communications Harris will design, build, and integrate as part of the county’s instant command the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite post. Lubbock County integrated Spacenet’s payload for Sierra Nevada as part of satellite equipment and services into its NASA’s Rapid Response Space Works and mobile command vehicle that is used Modular Space Vehicles program for the U.S. across the state to maintain data, voice and Department of Defense’s Operationally video communications during emergency Responsive Space (ORS) Office. ORS is a situations. The vehicle is one of two primary joint NASA/DoD initiative with the charter mobile communications platforms within to field modular payloads rapidly and the region and it can be used as an alternate inexpensively. The payload architecture, dispatch point for its jurisdiction in the case designed to support a new family of of an outage, helping to enable the county to modular military satellites, offers flexibility operate normally. The system supports VoIP to support multiple missions with minimal through telephone systems that connect changes in the basic design. SAR is the back to Lubbock County’s telephone second payload to be developed by the numbers. The vehicle was recently used to ORS Office and will produce high-resolution support a community in Texas that lost its radar imagery of the Earth’s surface, even connection to the 911 system due to a cut in during darkness or inclement weather. the fiber optic lines. The mobile command vehicle rolled into the community and within (Pictured below: TacSat-2 in orbit, the first an hour ORS satellite) was able to provide 911 access through its VoIP phones.

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 83 CutterComms JICO JSS Passes Milestones

The SATCOM Solutions division of Northrop Grumman received a salute Integral Systems, Inc. has been awarded for having met two major milestones. DISPATCHES a $10 million, five-year, Indefinite Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) (NYSE:NOC) Joint Interface Control contract to modernize the United Officer (JICO) Support System (JSS) States Coast Guard’s (USCG) satellite received Milestone C approval from communications (SATCOM) network for the U.S. Air Force November 19. After the service’s large cutters. integration with other air and space operations center systems, JSS will be Integral deployed to as many as 26 Air Force and Systems’ joint military sites worldwide. SATCOM Solutions In October 2010, JSS achieved two division significant milestones needed for final will act as fielding approval. JSS received the Air the prime Force’s Certification to Interoperate with contractor U.S. and allied data link networks and was on the granted an Authority to Operate, permitting program, JSS to connect with U.S. classified networks. transitioning JICOs are officers responsible for planning the USCG and managing the critical joint tactical from data link networks that aircraft and ground its legacy SATCOM network to a troops use to communicate in combat. JSS commercial-based, advanced Ku-band allows the JICO to optimally plan, configure, system, significantly enhancing network operate, monitor and exchange information reliability, flexibility and scalability. among multi-tactical data link networks, Under the terms of the contract, Integral using an integrated system of hardware and Systems’ SATCOM Solutions division will software. Northrop Grumman is delivering provide an advanced 117MT Ku-band 42 JSS Maritime Antenna System that includes systems, 160 its innovative, electromagnetic compatible workstations, (EMC) and electromagnetic interference spares, (EMI) management system. The 117MT training and fully supports primary “off-the-cutter” support for connection to the Coast Guard One fielding and Network (CGONE), and provides the ideal logistics. ocean-going platform for single channel per carrier or on-demand networks supporting video teleconferencing, virtual private networks, voice over IP and large file data transfers.

84 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 Flying With Ravens Acquiring The 4th AEHF

AeroVironment, Inc. has received an The MILSATCOM Systems Directorate order valued at $46,226,984 under an has awarded a cost-plus-incentive-fee DISPATCHES existing contract with the U.S. Army. The contract modification valued order comprises 123 new digital Raven® at approximately $1.4 billion to small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) Lockheed Martin Space Systems, and initial spares packages, as well as Sunnyvale, California, for production 186 digital retrofit kits for the U.S. Marine of the fourth Advanced Extremely High Corps. The order also includes 339 digital Frequency satellite. retrofit kits for the U.S. Army. The production contract includes The Raven system and retrofit order manufacturing, integration and test of the represents the remainder of the funds fourth AEHF space vehicle. The satellite appropriated for RQ-11B Raven system is contracted to be available for launch procurement in the 2010 Department of in 2017. AEHF-1 was launched on Aug. Defense Appropriations Act, which was 14, 2010, out of Cape Canaveral Air Force signed into law in December 2009. The Station, Florida, and is currently in an orders were released under the existing orbit-raising phase. AEHF-2 has completed U.S. Army joint small UAS program of record production and is in storage until its for AV’s Raven. This program has included scheduled launch in 2012. AEHF-3 is contract undergoing Thermal-Vacuum Testing and is additions on track to complete production in 2011. from the Army, AEHF is the successor to the five-satellite Marine Milstar constellation and will provide Corps and ten times greater global, highly secure, Special protected, survivable communications Operations capability for warfighters operating Command. on ground, sea and air platforms. The The items MILSATCOM Systems Directorate executes and services provided under these awards an annual budget of over $2.4 billion as it on this multi-year contract are fully funded. plans for, acquires and sustains space-based Work is scheduled to be performed within a global communications. period of 12 months.

The Raven unmanned aircraft is a 4.2-pound, backpackable, hand-launched sensor platform that provides day and night, real- time video imagery for “over the hill” and “around the corner” reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition in support of tactical units

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 85 The JIST Of The Matter Serious Surveillance System

ARINC Engineering Services, LLC has Soon to come to Afghanistan is a retained its key role as Technical Support revolutionary airborne surveillance DISPATCHES provider to USSTRATCOM for the joint system called Gorgon Stare, duly named planning and management of Satellite after the Gorgon, a mythical Greek Communications (SATCOM) resources of creature whose unblinking eyes turned to the U.S. Department of Defense. stone anyone who looked at him. Now the Air Force has a new drone that can see Under a follow-on Air Force contract everything, and will transmit live video recently awarded, ARINC will continue images of physical movement across an support and development work on the Joint entire town. Satellite Communications Management and Planning System (JSMPS) and the related Gorgon Stare is a nine video camera system Joint Integrated SATCOM Tool (JIST). The mounted on an aircraft that is remotely follow-on award is for a one-year base, operated and is capable of transmitting four one-year options, and one additional live video images of physical movement option period. JSMPS is the hub of a across any town. The system can transmit net-centric suite of DoD databases and live video images to soldiers on the ground applications, providing global mission or to analysts tracking enemy movements, management of SATCOM resources. The and sends as many as 65 various images to JIST tool is intended to manage satellite different users. This in comparison to today’s access for DoD stakeholders through a UAV single camera that provides video from request and authorization process. JSMPS/ a single camera over a “soda straw” area the JIST is being matured into a web-enabled size of a building or two. database and application suite for use by Contrarians question whether the military will be able to sort through enormous amounts of imagery in time to actually be helpful to troops in the field. Officials also agree that Gorgon Stare is of limited value unless they can match it with improved human intelligence — eyewitness reports of all DoD SATCOM stakeholders. It will also who is doing what... on the ground. provide a robust and secure environment for collaborative Electro-magnetic and Radio Frequency Interference (EMI/RFI) detection, tracking, analysis and mitigation.

86 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 Radioing In More Awards Fire Flies

Harris Corporation has been awarded an Fire-X, a vertical unmanned air Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity system (VUAS) developed by Northrop DISPATCHES (IDIQ) contract with a potential total Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) value of $475 million to supply military and Bell Helicopter, a Textron company and land mobile radio systems to (NYSE:TXT), completed its first fully international partners of the U.S. State autonomous flight Dec. 10 at Yuma Department and U.S. Department of Proving Ground, Ariz., less than one year Defense. after development began.

The five-year contract, awarded by the First flight involved a short-duration hover U.S. Army’s Communications Electronics to validate safe and reliable autonomous Command (CECOM), certifies Harris flight. Additional flight tests and reliability as a provider of radios, accessories, data gathering will be conducted in the communication systems and services coming weeks. Integration of ISR sensor to assist U.S. partners with their tactical payloads and cargo carrying capability test communication needs. The contract is part flights is set to occur early next year. First of the U.S. government’s Foreign Military flight was accomplished in 11 months after Sales program, which support coalition development began. It was achieved by building and interoperability through sales integrating Fire Scout’s proven autonomous of defense equipment, training and services. systems developed for the U.S. Navy with The contract covers the Harris RF Falcon the highly successful Bell 407 helicopter, II® and Falcon III® radio portfolio, such a FAA-certified helicopter that’s been in as the RF-7800M Multiband Networking, commercial service worldwide since 1996. and RF-7800S Secure Personal radios, The 407 system can carry ISR sensors and as well as public safety and professional a useful load of more than 3,200 pounds communications land mobile radios. – for fuel, payloads and/or enhanced cargo hauling capabilities — internally or externally. Fire-X will also be able to conduct ISR missions up to 16 hours in endurance and various cargo missions in support of U.S. Army and Marine Corps requirements.

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 87 Networking Backbone With JTRS products, every warfighter is For Soldiers connected to every other warfighter.

The Joint Tactical Radio System, or Today’s Soldier can look forward to a DISPATCHES JTRS, is transitioning from research and personal communication support package development, to production and delivery that is lighter, self-contained, and cannot be to Soldiers in the field. Providing cyber- hacked; has longer lasting batteries, and hardened Internet Protocol networking is able to transmit and receive at distances on fluid, rough terrain battlefields, JTRS previously unimagined in a net-centric radios seamlessly interconnect air, capability, at battlefield locations previously ground, maritime and space platforms unreachable by legacy technologies. JTRS and networks in a multi-band, multi- software-defined architecture increases mode capability to the individual Soldier. network security as threats evolve, while providing position location information The Soldier’s personal C2-on-the-move to the Soldier as real-time situational communications network capability, located awareness is passed to the company level in a single box that acts like a mobile cell and below. Soldiers are safer, smarter and tower and router, operates in a deployable, always in touch. mission-programmable, worldwide spectrum. Without JTRS, net-centric warfare, The convoy does not lose contact with quite literally, stops at the command center. battalion headquarters. JTRS products immediately go to work establishing a communications system and link throughout the entire convoy.

For the first time, the network now moves with the individual Soldier, rather than the Soldier having to move with the network. All operational and tactical data are at the Soldier’s disposal, not pre-empted or interrupted by traditional communication limitations. With JTRS, the battlefield is truly networked and every Soldier is connected in a safe, secure communications nerve system where they need it most: at the tactical edge.

JTRS GMR enables commanders to view and understand the battle space, communicate their intent, lead their forces and disseminate real-time infor- -Al Clayton and Mike Daily/Joint mation. It puts the full power of the Global Information Grid into the hands of PEO JTRS the warfighter. Photo: Boeing

88 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 WIN-T Increment 2 and line-of-sight radios and antennas, Delivers OTM Comm to achieve end-to-end connectivity and dynamic networking operations. For the first time, Warfighter Information DISPATCHES Network-Tactical Increment 2 will Increment 2 maintains a constantly viable bring mobility to the Army’s tactical self-healing network by providing instant network down to the company level. alternate connections in the event its It will eliminate the need to stop to connection is broken. As the vehicles that communicate, increasing maneuver carry the mobile network move in and out speed on the battlefield and allowing of areas of blockage or beyond normal Soldiers and commanders to stay range of connectivity, the network will connected at all times. automatically adapt, allowing for continuous communications between Soldiers. From WIN-T Increment 2 is the early introduction division down to battalion, Increment 2 will of mature on-the-move technology. Its provide an OTM line-of-sight radio known mission is to successfully deliver a self- as the Highband Networking Radio. This forming, self-healing mobile communication new radio will greatly increase line-of-sight infrastructure to Army combat units down capacity and ease of use. With the help of to the company level, giving commanders smart multi-beam antenna technology, the the ability to communicate seamlessly on HNR can automatically detect all other HNR the move, and providing a solid foundation radios within range and allow users to pass of program management and systems video, voice or Internet Protocol data traffic engineering for the increments that follow. to and from each other.

A key strength of WIN-T is its ability to The Program Manager WIN-T has started adapt to changing battlefield conditions equipment production for its initial in real time, without the pre-planning operational test in the first quarter of and configuration required of traditional fiscal year 2012. The first unit equipped enterprise networking infrastructure. It is expected by the second quarter of enables network mobility by employing fiscal year 2012. WIN-T Increment 3, military or commercial satellite connectivity which is still in development, will provide the air tier, using an advancement of the HNR radio, known as the Joint Command Control Communications and Computers Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Radio, or JC4ISR, mounted on unmanned aircraft. The warfighter will possess a three-tiered communication network providing connectivity for the full spectrum of operations.

-Amy Walker/PEO Command Control Communications-Tactical WIN-T Increment 2 field test

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 89 OPS Adapting & Understanding the future of war

author: Colonel Bruce Smith, Director DIrectorate of Combat Development Future Warfare Center

In late December of last and precision strike technologies year, the Army published produced a “revolution in the Army Capstone Concept. military affairs” (RMA). The concept is subtitled Advocates of RMA believed “Operational Adaptability: that the technology offered Operating under conditions of the Army a new way to fight a Uncertainty and Complexity in war that provided revolutionary an Era of Persistent Conflict.” abilities to find, identify, and The new concept is a guide target enemy forces with to how the Army will apply increased speed, precision and available, yet dwindling, resources lethality. RMA promised to provide to overcome adaptive enemies, while unparalleled situational awareness concurrently articulating how to that would enable commanders to think about future armed conflict. see through the fog and friction of This concept will serve as the war, giving them unprecedented foundation to drive development and levels of certainty and assurance. modernization efforts. It provides the common framework for thinking Unfortunately, proponents of RMA about the conduct of future joint frequently failed to recognize the land operations under the conditions limitations of these new technologies of uncertainty and complexity. and emerging threat military The Army Capstone Concept helps capabilities. Military concepts that place modernization decisions relied on long range targeting and within the conceptual foundation robust networks often divorced war of our DOTMLPF (doctrine, from its human context; political, organization, training, materiel, cultural, and psychological. RMA leader development, personnel and defense transformation — and facilities) requirements related thinking influenced and development. Army doctrine, organization, manning, and modernization During the last two decades, plans in ways that did not many believed that the United always reflect the reality of States’ competitive advantages our forces’ experiences on the in communications, information, ground in Afghanistan or Iraq.

90 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 OPS “The Army will remain dependent upon space-based capabilities such as satellite communications and position, navigation and timing to execute operations in uncertain and complex environments.”

Almost a decade of land combat the initiative. It is impossible to foresee operations has reinforced the fact the future, but developing leaders that land warfare is fought in complex confident in operational adaptability and uncertain environments. Political, will give the Army the ability to recover cultural and psychological factors from surprise and exploit unforeseen impact operations and cloud a opportunities. Operational adaptability commander’s situational awareness requires the Soldiers master the in ways technology alone cannot operational art, or the ability to link overcome. Army forces will continue the tactical employment of forces to to fight under these conditions of policy goals and strategic objectives. uncertainty and complexity. The It also demands Army forces that Army Capstone Concept recognizes are proficient in tactical warfighting this fact, as well as the need for the fundamentals and who possess Army to prepare to modernize and common understanding of how to operate in this evolving and ambiguous combine joint, Army, interagency, environment. Rather than relying and multinational capabilities. on perfect situational awareness, provided by technology, future forces The Army Capstone Concept identifies and leaders must strive to reduce a group of new, critical, and different uncertainty through a mindset of capabilities that its Soldiers and operational adaptability. Soldiers forces require to fight and win in must understand the situation in a complex and uncertain operating depth, develop the situation through environment. Although the capabilities action, fight for information, and are listed in five broad categories: continually reassess — adapting Battle Command, Movement and as the situation demands. Maneuver, Fires, Protection, and Sustainment, the underlying theme Leaders must be comfortable using or link is greater adaptability or their best judgement, and be willing versatility across the force in order to take prudent risks with the to cope with future environment. understanding that they will not have all the information and facts they Although not all inclusive, key Army would like, or might, need. Uncertainly required tenants or capabilities and ambiguity cannot be completely include “mission command, train as overcome, but operational adaptability we fight, command forward from can help mitigate their effects. mobile platforms, fight degraded, operate decentralized, defend Operational adaptability is essential to networks, fight for information, developing situational understanding and conduct reconnaissance to and seizing, retaining and exploiting develop the situational.” What is

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 91 OPS

immediately obvious is that there are The findings from a variety of forums no space specific capabilities listed. over the past several years, including In fact, the Army Capstone Concept the Allard Commission and the Space does not discuss space at all. Posture Review, recognize that space- based capabilities are increasingly Does the exclusion of space vulnerable. The Capstone Concept from the concept mean that the — while not specifically calling out Army is changing its view on the this growing vulnerability to the Army importance of space and space-based — does point out that Army forces capabilities? Is the Army throwing must be able to fight degraded, which out space as it de-emphasizes RMA includes space-based capabilities as and technology and promotes the well as degraded communications concept of operational adaptability? and command and control networks. The new concept also emphasizes The short answer to both questions the need for Soldiers to actively fight is no. Although space-based for information, rather than making capabilities are not specifically the assumption that it will always addressed in the new Capstone be provided and present when they Concept, it is easy to see the linkages need it. At the same time, the concept and dependencies that space-based recognizes the increasing need and capabilities provide to the Army importance that the Army defend its and to the concept of operational own networks in order to generate adaptability. Space is no less important and preserve combat power. to the Army in this new concept. The Army will remain dependent U.S. space-based capabilities are upon space-based capabilities such an increasingly attractive target to as satellite communications and our adversaries; all leaders — not position, navigation and timing to just Army space leaders — must execute operations in uncertain understand that there will be periods and complex environments. of time when space-based capabilities and systems are actively denied or Satellite communications and PNT degraded. Despite the recognition provide the means to command of our vulnerability, Army leaders forward from mobile platforms as have been reluctant to train in a well as operate in a decentralized degraded space environment. manner. Space-based capabilities enable a unit to fight for information, as well as to conduct reconnaissance in order to develop the situation. Space-based capabilities and systems continue to enable Army operational capabilities within an uncertain and complex operating environment.

92 MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 OPS

Usually the loss of SATCOM or position, In conclusion, the new Army Capstone navigation and timing is simulated, Concept emphasizes operational accompanied by the rationale that adaptability. Leaders at all levels must training time is too valuable to waste have a mindset that is flexible, and they and that we cannot afford to deny or must be comfortable with collaborative degrade space-based capabilities, as it planning and decentralized execution. would detract from the main training objective. Consequently, leaders and At the same time, our Soldiers must Soldiers are not trained to operate be able to tolerate and operate within in a degraded space environment. ambiguous situations, and possess the ability and willingness to make The Army Capstone Concept provides rapid adjustments according to the the opportunity and rationale for situation. Space-based capabilities rethinking this necessary training. and systems enables the concepts, In order to operate in a degraded training and systems that make environment, Army forces and operational adaptability possible. leaders need to develop mitigation plans and strategies beforehand in The new concept, rather than order to successfully fight through constraining space operations, provides these inevitable degradations. Army U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense training, to include rotations at the Command and Space Operation Combat Training Centers, needs to Officers a new opportunity and routinely include denied or degrade foundation challenging us to further space-based capabilities. Soldiers and emphasize, provide, and develop forces should be practicing operations space-based capabilities within without satellite communications the Army. Operational adaptability or GPS signals. They need to learn is dependent upon space. how to rapidly recognize degraded Editor’s note capabilities and take action to This article was originally published mitigate their loss, in order to in the Army Space Journal, 2010 preserve operational adaptability in an Winter/Spring Edition, and is republished with permission. uncertain and complex environment.

MILSATMAGAZINE — January/February 2011 93 Milsatmagazine Advertisers Vol. 4, No. 1—January/February 2011

Silvano Payne, Publisher + Author AAE Systems 25 Hartley G. Lesser, Editorial Director Pattie Lesser, Editor Advantech AMT 51 P.J. Waldt, Associate Editor Agile Communications Systems 03 Don McGee, Production Manager Simon Payne, Development Manager AVL Technologies 23 Chris Forrester, Associate Editor Comtech EF Data 47 Michael Fleck, Contributing Editor Jill Durfee, Sales Director/Editorial Assistant CPI Wireless Solutions-SATCOM Div. 55 Richard Dutchik, Contributing Editor Euroconsult 71 Futron 07 IDGA 17 MITEQ / MCL 41 Authors Paradise Datacom 59

Peter Carides Space Foundation (NSS) 37 Marv Gordner W.B. Walton Enterprises, Inc. 31 Jos Heyman Dustin Kaiser Wavestream 53 Rodger Von Kries Xicom Technology FC + 19 Hartley Lesser Pattie Lesser Colonel Bruce Smith Peter Woodhead

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