Special Report

Next Generation COFDM Links for Surveillance

COFDM Delivers Combined Military Surveillance and IP Data Links COFDM: What Is It And Why Does It Work? Surveillance Gathers Knowledge: Knowledge is Power A Variety of Applications Who Needs COFDM?

Sponsored by

Published by Global Business Media SPECIAL REPORT SPECIAL REPORT: NEXT GENERATION COFDM MICROWAVE LINKS FOR MILITARY SURVEILLANCE

Next Generation COFDM Microwave Links for Military Surveillance

COFDM Delivers Combined Military Contents Surveillance and IP Data Links COFDM: What Is It And Why Does It Work? Delivering world-class surveillance Surveillance Gathers Knowledge: Knowledge is Power A Variety of Applications and inhibition capability Who Needs COFDM? Foreword 2 John Hancock, Editor

COFDM Delivers Combined Military Surveillance and IP Data Links 3 Enterprise Control Systems Limited Identify Early – Decide Fast Sponsored by ECS and COFDM

Published by Global Business Media The ECS EVENLODE Data Terminal Benefits of the Next Generation of COFDM Systems Published by Global Business Media Global Business Media Limited COFDM: What Is It And Why Does It Work? 8 62 The Street Ashtead Surrey KT21 1AT Peter Dunwell, Correspondent United Kingdom The Multipath Challenge Switchboard: +44 (0)1737 850 939 Fax: +44 (0)1737 851 952 What is COFDM? Identify early Decide fast Email: [email protected] What it Means for Users Website: www.globalbusinessmedia.org What COFDM Can Manage Publisher Kevin Bell Surveillance Gathers Knowledge: Business Development Director Knowledge is Power 10 Marie-Anne Brooks John Hancock, Editor Editor John Hancock Surveillance is Not an Academic Matter Senior Project Manager It Really is a Matter of Life and Death Steve Banks New Technologies Delivering Established Principles Advertising Executives Some Things Have Changed… Michael McCarthy Abigail Coombes … Others Remain the Same Production Manager Challenges to Surveillance Paul Davies Coping with Anything For further information visit: www.globalbusinessmedia.org A Variety of Applications 12 Francis Slade, Writer The opinions and views expressed in the editorial content in this publication are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily Convergence and Disruption Create a New Paradigm represent the views of any organisation with Capability Transfer which they may be associated. Technology Transfer Material in advertisements and promotional features may be considered to represent the Land, Sea and Air views of the advertisers and promoters. The Disruptive Technology views and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily express the views of the Publishers or the Editor. While every care has been taken in the preparation of this publication, Who Needs COFDM? 14 neither the Publishers nor the Editor are Peter Dunwell, Correspondent responsible for such opinions and views or for any inaccuracies in the articles. Enabling Technology Other Uses © 2013. The entire contents of this publication are protected by copyright. Full details are Police and Civil Applications available from the Publishers. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, Military Service stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise, without References 16 the prior permission of the copyright owner. Enterprise Control Systems Ltd ECS Technology Park, T: +44 (0) 1327 860050 www.phoenixaerospace.com Wappenham, Northants. E: [email protected] A wholly owned subsidiary of Enterprise Control Systems Ltd NN12 8WJ United Kingdom www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk www.defenceindustryreports.com | 1 SPECIAL REPORT: NEXT GENERATION COFDM MICROWAVE LINKS FOR MILITARY SURVEILLANCE SPECIAL REPORT: NEXT GENERATION COFDM MICROWAVE LINKS FOR MILITARY SURVEILLANCE

Foreword COFDM Delivers Combined Military Surveillance and IP Data Links very now and then a technology comes consider what the technology’s characteristics mean Enterprise Control Systems Limited Delivering world-class E along that can honestly be described as a for users. We then look at the main purpose for which, surveillance and ‘game-changer’. COFDM (Coded Orthogonal in the context of this paper, COFDM is deployed – inhibition capability Frequency Division Multiplexing) is such a surveillance. What forces need to know may not have technology. By quite simple but ingenious means, changed much but the speed and accuracy with ilitary Surveillance demands high to include an IP link to the platform combined it overcomes most of the hazards of which they need to know it has. Knowledge, as the Mcapacity, secure and robust data links with the high integrity, high capacity, military in difficult terrains, whether a city article says, is power: so getting it and using it is critical to deliver the multiple, high definition real time grade security and extended range of the latest or mountainous landscape. to success. images available from the sensors of modern generation of COFDM based systems. The This Special Report opens with an article that looks We then look at the variety of applications to surveillance platforms. Range requirements ‘uplink’ data path may be used to remote control vary from tactical assets needing only 4-5 sensors and/or control unmanned systems at Enterprise Control Systems Limited, an award which COFDM had been put. In particular, we look km through to long-range patrol surveillance in the most demanding environments. As winning leader in the field of military surveillance, at the disruptive effect that a technology that can systems demanding capability at least to the surveillance sensors, their platforms and which supplies a number of key surveillance users with communicate around corners and past mountains horizon. capability have advanced they are now being advanced capabilities, taking advantage of COFDM brings to the whole communication scene. And we Traditional VHF/UHF systems have provided matched by the capability and flexibility of the microwave links. COFDM is a spread spectrum radio consider how the military are using the opportunities low data rates for voice and highly compressed latest generation of COFDM microwave links that transmission technique which splits the data stream of COFDM. Last but not least, we ask ‘who needs imagery. Satellite provide combine, to best effect, many of the attributes of Beyond Line of Sight (BLoS) capabilities, but legacy military data links with the performance over multiple carriers with much slower symbol rate COFDM?’ It’s great to have new toys in the box but Identify early Decide fast are severely capacity limited by virtue of both of the latest imagery transmission systems. than a single carrier transmission. This gives resilience we also need to know who can use them and for what their cost and availability. Traditional military and As surveillance sensor platforms become to multpath fading. The article goes on to describe purpose. We look across a range of civilian, quasi- commercial microwave Line of Sight (LoS) data smaller and more pervasive in the battle space, EVENLODE, a lightweight data terminal specifically military and military users of the technology. links can be infrastructure independent and have COFDM microwave links are being adopted designed to meet the demands of Unmanned Aerial From the definition of its acronym to the technical been suitable for tactical ranges and for urban by those needing to realise the true capability Vehicles (UAV), but which is equally well suited and descriptions of how it works, this is never going to be surveillance if utilising suitable waveforms. A of their sensors that are currently constrained typical application of standard microwave LoS by legacy military communications systems. employed for other airborne, ground and maritime a layman’s topic but we hope that our paper will allow links has been to transmit surveillance from Enterprise Control Systems (ECS), as an award data applications. The article ends by describing readers to understand a little more of what COFDM is air platforms to the ground. winning leader in this field, is already supplying a various operational advantages of the EVENLODE link. and what it can do. The latest COFDM data links used for number of key surveillance users with these The report goes on to examine COFDM, what it is surveillance applications have now evolved advanced capabilities. and why does it work. It’s quite a technical section but we’ve managed to find some layman’s explanations John Hancock to complement the technology rich ones. We also Editor

John Hancock joined as Editor of Defence Reports in early 2012. A journalist for nearly 25 years, John has written and edited articles and papers on a range of defence, engineering and technology topics as well as for key events in the sector. Subjects have included aero- engineering, testing, aviation IT, materials engineering, research, supply chain, logistics and naval engineering.

www.phoenixaerospace.com A wholly owned subsidiary of Enterprise Control Systems Ltd

Enterprise Control Systems Ltd ECS Technology Park, Wappenham, Northants. NN12 8WJ United Kingdom T: +44 (0) 1327 860050 E: [email protected] www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk

Evenlode Interoperability Diagram

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As surveillance ECS and COFDM certification/type approval for all standard (SD) inputs. Any video input may be selected systems. A majority network voting system Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division systems are the reasons why over 200 airborne and switched, including during a mission, as may be used to link any number of ground data Multiplexing (COFDM) is a spread spectrum ECS systems are now used for operationally- an input to the two video encoders with the terminals onto an IP area network backbone. The sensors, their platforms radio transmission technique. COFDM splits critical missions in over 40 countries. Continuing configuration and control of the Advanced Video Network Voting System automatically selects the the data stream over multiple carriers with advances in techniques and technology coupled Codec (AVC/H.264/MPEG4 P10) compression best receive signal available in the network and much slower symbol rate than a single carrier with the development of operational concepts parameters also dynamically selectable. As uses this to multicast received ASI data securely transmission. Using a much lower symbol rate and battle space surveillance solutions have now such the Video Encoder Module is offered as a to any number of monitoring sites. Uplinks from and capability have gives resilience to multipath fading. Additionally, taken these capabilities to another level. front-end video management system. a network voting system are achieved by DVB-T coding information is added to the data stream Single Frequency Network (SFN) techniques Delivering world-class and used at the receiver to estimate the most The ECS EVENLODE The data from the Air Video Encoder Module is and transmitting the same signal from every surveillance and advanced they are now likely transmitted signal state sequence. Each Data Terminal ground data terminal or, selectively by knowledge subcarrier propagates slightly differently and EVENLODE is the lightweight data terminal of the position of the platform. inhibition capability some subcarriers may be lost at a single receive specifically designed to meet the demands of The EVENLODE System is extremely flexible being matched by the point. Using multiple subcarriers together with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) but equally and can be configured to meet the demands diversity antennas provides an extremely robust well suited and employed for other airborne, of highly capable surveillance sensor systems. link far more resilient than a single carrier system. ground and maritime data applications. A pair With close human factors analysis of customers’ The COFDM scheme is adopted as part of the of EVENLODE data terminals behaves like an Example of how forms requirements, Enterprise Control Systems Ltd capability and flexibility Digital Video Broadcast – Terrestrial (DVB-T) Ethernet cable between networks at either end (ECS) is able to provide intuitive interfaces to standard and used to transmit Freeview in of the link whilst simultaneously providing 2 presented to the transceiver as an Asynchronous EVENLODE systems and provide pre-set profiles the UK. High Definition (HD) video streams from the Serial Interface (ASI) (MPEG2 P1) along with for specific operational tasks, or even tighter of the latest generation of sensor(s). With advanced, flexible and even the Internet Protocol (IP) data and multiplexed integration into mission systems. dynamic configuration control EVENLODE onto the Transport Stream. The Transport Fully embedded security is always provided, provides an innovative solution for the most Steam data is then modulated using a COFDM carefully integrated into these advanced systems COFDM microwave links demanding information exchange requirements technique and transmitted. An Internet Protocol so as to work in seamlessly with the complex in surveillance systems. (IP) data buffer is incorporated as part of demands of full motion video communication. The standard system provides 10 W Radio the transceiver module to manage IP data Systems are supplied with either integrated Identify early Decide fast Frequency (RF) output and has been proven to fluctuations that may momentarily exceed the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) provide links of up to 200 Nautical Miles (NM) link capacity. So that data is not lost, IP data 256-bit (subject to export license) or Substitution range and, up to 21 Mbps data exchange rate. is buffered at the section of the Cipher encryption. The system is available in L, S and C radio bands transceiver and released as soon as the link Example of how COFDM copes with fading due and is DO160 approved for airborne installation. is capable of sending the buffer content. IP Benefits of the Next Generation to multipath propagation The air equipment, at 3 kg for the standard communication is point-to-point. Critically, for of COFDM Systems 10 W system has been designed for UAV a surveillance asset, the ASI information (in Internet Protocol (IP) is fast becoming a Enterprise Control Systems Ltd (ECS) has and is modular. The standard EVENLODE air most cases the sensor output) is transmitted ubiquitous interconnection standard within all since 2003 optimised the DVB-T standard for data terminal comprises of Transceiver, Power omni-directionally to any number of receivers platforms from the individual soldier system, surveillance use, tuning the implementation Regulation & Supply, Heat Exchange and, Linear within range, each of which decrypts the signal through specialist battlefield vehicles, to to achieve the highest levels of integrity and Power Amplifier modules. The modules may to view it. In this way the EVENLODE system is ships, to aircraft and unmanned systems. availability, security and range performance be distributed for load balance, or be provided predominantly agnostic to the sensor platform For example Avionics Full Duplex Switched that are essential to the military surveillance task. to meet bespoke operational requirements. orientation or motion and provides a secure Ethernet (AFDX / ARINC 664 Part 7) is a This advanced ‘militarised’ implementation of A separate Video Encoder Module capable data link from the platform to multiple receive standard that is replacing bus systems such the already highly capable COFDM scheme of encoding up to two video signals and two sites simultaneously, coupled with an IP link to as ARINC 429 for data exchange requirements has been delivered to specialist customers audio signals is supplied for direct video and the platform to deliver any available IP based on air platforms. It is therefore essential to since 2004. The robust nature of this link, the audio input. The Video Encoder Module has 4 functionality required. integrate with these IP data bus systems. intuitive user interfaces provided and the aircraft High Definition (HD) and 2 Standard Definition To manage the trade-off between the available Extending the platform IP data bus with an IP data rate and the link range, an EVENLODE communications link that is already embedded system is provided with the ability to adjust the within the encrypted COFDM data link from radio link parameters and optimise them for the the sensor platform delivers a significant surveillance task. The way in which this control capability gain. The user gets a smaller, lighter, is implemented is bespoke to customer, sensor more efficient and substantially less complex and platform requirements. This control may be system. These performance and capability based on the assessment of the link range with improvements coupled with reduced size, weight Global Positioning System (GPS) data sent and power consumption are most apparent on between the two link data terminals, by user the surveillance platform itself, with a lower www.phoenixaerospace.com control, by automatic sensing of the required box/equipment count. However, the system A wholly owned subsidiary of Enterprise Control Systems Ltd data rate for the information requested to be sent improvement continues to roll out through Enterprise Control Systems Ltd or, by automatic link monitoring between the two the receive networks across the large number ECS Technology Park, Wappenham, Northants. data terminals. of potential consumers of the surveillance NN12 8WJ United Kingdom T: +44 (0) 1327 860050 EVENLODE ground data terminals may be product, all of whom benefit from the simplicity, E: [email protected] provided specific to operational requirements the tighter system integration and the increased www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk The EVENLODE Air Data Terminal The EVENLODE Air Video Encoder Module with options for mobile, portable and static performance available.

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The EVENLODE System As the surveillance ‘eyes’ of the battle space play is extremely flexible and an increasingly critical role in the execution of

can be configured to operations, it makes sense that everyone across Delivering world-class surveillance and meet the demands multiple domains is able to exploit to inhibition capability Example of a MPEG 2 multiplexer and COFDM modulator transmit chain of today’s highly best effect what these ‘eyes’ can see

capable surveillance

The leading manufacturers of platform Electro significant bandwidth. It is therefore absolutely waveforms may effectively be programmed and Contact sensor systems. Optical (EO) camera turrets continue with the essential to derive maximum operational benefit ‘ported’ onto the soft cores so that EVENLODE Standard Digital Interface video outputs as their from this critical battlefield resource. Payload data may be configured with other waveforms for Debbie Adams output of choice. These SDI outputs can be rate is proportional to the bandwidth allocated in interoperability. Flexibility, configurability and Sales Support encoded and indexed on an MPEG2 P1 Transport the available spectrum. Data links are therefore longevity of use in a demanding and changing Stream and sent as a Constant Bit Rate (CBR) available for frequency ranges between 1 and battle space will always remain another key datalink payload. The Transport Stream may be 6.5 GHz (L, S and C Band). Users are also aspect to the selection and deployment of Identify early Decide fast encapsulated with IP and presented onto an IP under pressure to release frequency spectrum mission critical capability. network using one-directional protocols such to facilitate commercial mobile data services. As the surveillance ‘eyes’ of the battle as Unidirectional Datagram Protocol (UDP) or, So, bandwidth is a premium. EVENLODE uses space play an increasingly critical role in the the SDI may be encoded and presented to the Advanced Video Coded (AVC/H.264/MPEG4 execution of operations, it makes sense that Enterprise Control Systems Ltd IP network without indexing on a Transport P10) to code sensor video with significant everyone across multiple domains is able to ECS Technology Park, Stream using Real Time Protocol (RTP) and a improvements in compression for the same exploit to best effect what these ‘eyes’ can see. Wappenham, jitter buffer at the receiver. Control of platform quality image over older legacy encoding Today’s sensor platforms are increasingly Northants. sensors is increasingly IP-based. Therefore techniques such as MPEG 2 P2/H.262. This becoming ‘un-tethered’ from their single points NN12 8WJ systems such as EVENLODE provide the ability means that the same quality full motion image of control and single points of product ingest United Kingdom to control platform sensors remotely over the may be sent via an EVENLODE link using into the battle space. The dissemination of COFDM link with the ability to send both SDI less bandwidth with the added advantage that surveillance product direct from the sensor Tel: +44 (0) 1327 861959 video via the Video Encoder Module, or any IP lower bandwidth signals are also capable of platform to the widest number of potential Fax: +44 (0) 1327 860058 based information. greater ranges (Thermal is proportional users, without adding the burden of complex EVENLODE provides a remote IP network to bandwidth). Incorporating variable user to user transport has been happening as [email protected] link which gives all manner of operational bandwidth setting and the AVC codec, allows a quiet revolution for some time. The continued [email protected] advantages. The EVENLODE link may be used EVENLODE to provide the optimum link range deployment of advanced, COFDM techniques to provide a remote terminal access on the sensor performance for any data exchange requirement. optimized for the military surveillance domain www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk platform into a database or server system. The Enabling expert user control of these parameters and their combination with platform and platform then has access to the server system in a dynamic manner, even during a mission, networked C2 is adding yet another step- information such as mapping, operational enables the user to actively ‘fight’ the system change improvement in the delivery of this tasking and intelligence with remote access into in the RF/cyber/ISTAR domain to maintain vital commodity. this information over the COFDM EVENLODE link. operational effectiveness and combat attempts In this way, the storage of sensitive information by an opponent to deny it. on the sensor platform is minimized and can be The highly optimized ECS COFDM radio denied should the platform be compromised. The spread spectrum technique has been proven IP link may be used for messaging, transferring on operations in Line of Sight (LoS) and files, Video over IP and, to provide ’internet- Near-Line of Sight (NLOS) environments, in www.phoenixaerospace.com on-the-platform’. As an example, in the case high multipath environments in the land, maritime A wholly owned subsidiary of Enterprise Control Systems Ltd of manned air surveillance platforms, it is now and air domains and on air platforms ranging Enterprise Control Systems Ltd feasible to relocate the air surveillance sensor from rotary to fast jets. As waveforms and ECS Technology Park, Wappenham, Northants. operator from the platform, to the controlling, or techniques continue to evolve and standards NN12 8WJ United Kingdom T: +44 (0) 1327 860050 sensor data consuming node. to emerge, the latest generation EVENLODE E: [email protected] COFDM transmission, as a spread spectrum system has been designed with interoperability www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk technique using multiple carriers, occupies a in mind. Utilizing the soft-core boards,

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COFDM: What Is It And Why Does It Work?

Peter Dunwell, Correspondent

Delivering world-class surveillance and inhibition capability

COFDM is a modulation e live in a world where, even for the COFDM sends its message using multiple Warmed forces charged to protect us, all on the same frequency (frequency cost constraints have to be considered. Thus, division multiplexing) which are transmitted at scheme that divides if a product or system can offer improved right angles to each other. This has the effect of performance without significant additional enabling the signal to cope with terrain related cost, it is likely to prove popular. COFDM is one disruption better than if only one transmitter is a single digital signal such system but, that said, it’s not the easiest used and the whole signal goes in the same 32mm self contained Electromagnetic Compatibility Chamber concept to describe. Rather like the system direction, and that makes it very good for itself, it might be best approached along a surveillance systems. across 1,000 or number of paths, some quite technical, others This is quite a technical area so that, inevitably, a little more accessible. explanations tend towards the technical; such specifically non-line-of-sight environments. COFDM enables signals as Tektronix3, “’Coded’ means that the data to When necessary, microwave links must provide more signal carriers The Multipath Challenge be modulated has error control. ‘Orthogonality’ encrypted, COFDM real-time, high-quality Identify early Decide fast The challenge that COFDM has to overcome means that the spectra of the individual video to all interested parties… traditional to cope with terrain and is called multipath. “Multipath,” according to carriers do not influence each other... A single- video microwave requires line-of-sight from the simultaneously. The Scribd1, “is the term for the different paths that frequency network is used for the actual transmitter to the receiver, even slight obstructions a signal takes in reaching an aerial from the transmission. This is a modulation scheme can cause multipath or ghosting effects. At the infrastructure that might transmitter. For example, one path may be a used for digital transmission that is employed by very least, the signal is distorted or fades out. signals are sent at right line-of-sight path from the transmitter to the the European DVB system. It uses a very large At the very worst, the signal is lost altogether.” aerial whereas another path may bounce off a number of carriers (hundreds or thousands), each have blocked older hill or building before reaching the aerial. In this carrying data at a very low rate... It is, therefore, What COFDM Can Manage angles to each other example, the signal that travels along the line- particularly suited for mobile reception and for What may be of more interest to users is that of-sight path arrives at the aerial first followed a single-frequency networks.” COFDM enables signals to cope with terrain transmission systems (hence, orthogonal) short period later by the path that has bounced off and infrastructure that might have blocked older the hill or building. As the different paths travelled What it Means for Users transmission systems because its multiplicity are of different length the time taken for the signal Perhaps a less technical but more accessible of transmitters and variability of direction so they do not interfere to reach the receiver will be different, with the explanation comes from TechTarget on mean that, where there is an obstruction, direct path (if there is one) reaching the receiver SearchNetworking4; “COFDM is a modulation different transmissions will ‘approach’ it at possible. While this has no particular surveillance first, followed by reflected paths. The effect that scheme that divides a single digital signal across different angles ensuring that some will get relevance, it illustrates the capabilities of OFDM/ with each other these multipaths have on the received signal at 1,000 or more signal carriers simultaneously. The past. It has been described as allowing signals COFDM links. the is that the amplitude of the received signals are sent at right angles to each other to ‘flow’ around obstructions. The concept actually grew out of Multi Carrier signal fluctuates. (hence, orthogonal) so they do not interfere with Interestingly, OFDM/COFDM has seen a lot of Modulation (MCM) developed for military high each other.” The articles can also be mined to development in connection with digital frequency (HF) in the late 1950s which What is COFDM? find a refreshingly straightforward description and audio broadcasting. The reasons for this divided streams [messages] into several parallel COFDM is the anagram for Coded Orthogonal of ‘modulation’ as, “the addition of information are that, being less vulnerable to disruption, it is streams used to modulate several carriers6. And Frequency Division Multiplexing. JH Stott of (or the signal) to an electronic or optical signal better able to maintain the quality and integrity it is still military applications where a lot of the BBC Research and Development makes the carrier... One can think of blanket waving as a form of terrestrial high definition television (HDTV) progress is being made with the development of technical case2; “COFDM can cope with high of modulation used in smoke signal transmission and digital audio broadcasting (DAB) where COFDM mesh7 to improve surveillance prospects levels of multipath propagation, with a wide (the carrier being a steady stream of smoke).” it not only copes with terrain and environment by combining a number of COFDM radios spread of delays between the received signals. Armed Forces International also explains the related disruption but also can deal with together over a wide area so that whichever one www.phoenixaerospace.com This leads to the concept of single-frequency problem in slightly more accessible terms and changes experienced by a moving receiver, such is able to get the best surveillance, the whole A wholly owned subsidiary of Enterprise Control Systems Ltd networks in which many transmitters send relates it to surveillance operations5; “Covert and as in a car. COFDM has made DAB car radio mesh can be used. Enterprise Control Systems Ltd the same signal on the same frequency, surveillance operations are unconventional by ECS Technology Park, Wappenham, Northants. generating “artificial multipath”. COFDM design. So, the normal lines of communication NN12 8WJ United Kingdom T: +44 (0) 1327 860050 also copes well with co-channel narrowband may be rendered ineffective, which translates into E: [email protected] interference, as may be caused by the carriers the need for UGVs [unmanned ground vehicles] www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk of existing analogue services.” to operate in non-traditional environments,

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Surveillance Gathers Knowledge: Knowledge Battlefield protection and troop protection remain key is Power priorities in any action and it will usually be surveillance John Hancock, Editor Delivering world-class that will enable troops on the ground to call in and surveillance and It has always been a vital part of military activity to know as much as inhibition capability possible about the enemy and to communicate that knowledge to planners provide targets for support forces and/or air strikes

The armed services Surveillance is Not essentially it is the same technique as has been do we need surveillance to tell us from where in which soldiers still lose their lives. Battlefield an Academic Matter applied for thousands of years. The technology the threats might be coming but we also need protection and troop protection remain key Surveillance; it excites opinions at polar opposite might have evolved and the methods might to be able locate, identify and track any of the priorities in any action and it will usually be might regard the quality ends of the spectrum of human reactions. Some have been adapted to cope with new modern weapons that might be used against surveillance that will enable troops on the ground see modern surveillance systems as intrusive threats and new ways of war fighting but the us such as chemical and germ weapons or to call in and provide targets for support forces agents of the ‘Nanny State’; others see them as essentials remain the same. The first need is even nuclear devices. The world is no longer a and/or air strikes. legitimate technology to deter offenders (where to know what is happening in the area around predictable place so the people with the most up Another fact of any military campaign is that a of surveillance in Identify early Decide fast they are overt) or catch transgressors (when they your position from where any attack could to date, accurate and comprehensive knowledge force needs supplies. That can be tricky when the may be less than overt). But while those of us be mounted. At one time, that was one will have the upper hand. routes from rear supply bases to operational and terms of the difference living in the comparably comfortable realms of a reason why fortresses and castles were built We also face a low level but general threat of front line bases have to run through potentially civil society may argue over this, there are others on the highest ground possible: not only attack from across the world using Intercontinental hostile territory. Convoys are often accompanied for whom surveillance is not simply a convenient was it possible to physically dominate the Ballistic Missiles and, again, the only way to by UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) whose task is between knowing the way to deter or spot transgressors who might be area around and easier to defend against counter this is with knowledge gained through to constantly survey the terrain around and along jumping the traffic lights or using a mobile phone attackers who had to climb up to reach you surveillance. Without that, the anti-missile missiles the convoy’s route. whilst driving. but, the higher your vantage point the better would not know where to go. And, given the speed enemy’s plans, positions you could see them coming and ‘read’ their of such weapons, the value of any surveillance will Challenges to Surveillance It Really is a Matter tactics. Today, attacks can come from a far wider be significantly enhanced by rapid and reliable As much as combatants endeavour to gather of Life and Death area than what can be seen from your positions transmission of the knowledge learned to a device knowledge about the other side, other forces will and routes or being Members of the armed services might regard and so we put surveillance aircraft into the sky that can use it. endeavour to detect and/or disrupt their efforts the quality of surveillance in terms of the and even satellites to enable us to see what our with a range of counter measures. And, when difference between knowing the enemy’s plans, enemies and potential enemies are doing. But … Others Remain the Same the campaign is conducted in difficult terrain, caught out by a surprise positions and routes or being caught out by a for all their sophistication, they still have to get But, not everything in warfare has changed so the terrain itself or even weather conditions will surprise assault… the difference between life the fruits of their surveillance back to the people much. One of the critical tasks of surveillance, even have the capacity to disrupt communications. and death. For the military (army, navy or air running the battle. in the modern war, is to discover and understand Forces need to take measures to ensure that assault… the difference force) surveillance to gather intelligence has long the enemy’s positions and, from any discernible all surveillance data is quickly and accurately been the prerequisite to success in battle. Of Some Things Have Changed… deployments, his plans. Scouts used to have to get transmitted to a processor wherever they are, course the calibre of the people and the quality The need has changed in other ways as well. The themselves near to the enemy positions in order to whether in a mountainous area or an urban area between life and death of the equipment with which they fight are massive asymmetric type of war that armed forces more survey them and to eavesdrop on discussions in where building can disrupt. factors but, as guerrillas from the Vietcong to the often have to fight today is against an enemy who order to learn plans. Today, that can often be done Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan have shown, is less predictable, less likely to be organised in from an aircraft or even a ground station such as Coping with Anything knowing the terrain on which you are fighting, obvious formations and more likely to look like the GCHQ using telephone taps or eavesdropping on Knowledge and communication have always knowing your enemy’s dispositions and strength, general population than like a fighter. Therefore various wireless communications. However, we been key elements for military campaigns. and being able to deny the enemy that knowledge not only do surveillance techniques have to be keep returning to the fact that a station such as However, today’s battlefield information of your forces can enable militarily weaker fighters different but also the speed and quality of the GCHQ is only as good as the quality of information needs to be gathered over a much wider area www.phoenixaerospace.com to inflict steady and degrading damage to a larger, transmission of data that has been gathered to a it receives and in a fast moving world that is often in a range of formats to support not only human A wholly owned subsidiary of Enterprise Control Systems Ltd better equipped force. place or (more likely) a processor that can discern only as good as the speed and quality with which decision-making but also technology-based Enterprise Control Systems Ltd a pattern and predict what is likely to happen have it is transmitted from source to processor. analysis and prediction. And any intelligence ECS Technology Park, Wappenham, Northants. New Technologies Delivering become critical. And while wars might be increasingly asymmetric gathering system today must be able to NN12 8WJ United Kingdom T: +44 (0) 1327 860050 Established Principles A more worrying scenario is when that with enemy combatants not easily distinguished cope with difficult terrain, hills, valleys, buildings E: [email protected] These days, the range of questions for which undistinguishable fighter comes into one of our from the rest of the population and almost no set- and trees, any one of which could disrupt sighting www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk surveillance is the answer is larger than ever but cities with an explosive device or worse. Not only piece battles, there are still significant fire fights or communication.

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A Variety of Applications

Francis Slade, Staff Writer

COFDM is making its mark in both the civil and military worlds but for very similar and transferable purposes Delivering world-class surveillance and inhibition capability

These days and to an Convergence and Disruption Capability Transfer Create a New Paradigm This ubiquity of capability can then be transferred Two of the most potent terms in technology today to a more militaristic purpose, surveillance. These are ‘convergence’ and ‘disruption’. Convergence days and to an increasing degree, governments increasing degree, is easy enough to explain; it’s where two or more and public authorities use surveillance as one Lynx Helicopter technologies come together to create a device tool in their efforts to maintain safe streets with multiple capabilities such as mobile phones and manage the areas for which they are governments and with web capability, music players and cameras. responsible. But, in an urban environment, Disruption almost suggests a negative effect surveillance, like any broadcast system, can But, of course, as much as a military force The PA Consultancy Group’s report, Defence whereas it really means the creation of a new be subject to disruption from the effects of wishes to preserve the quality of surveillance and Demand for Spectrum 2008-2027 acknowledged paradigm, such as the same mobile phone’s the Urban infrastructure. COFDM can be information, an enemy, especially a technically the part that COFDM could contribute for the MoD Identify early Decide fast public authorities use impact on the retail music market and the rise of applicable here. “An entire city can be covered advanced enemy, will wish to disrupt both the in getting the best return for the communications people’s journalism. by COFDM video and IP solutions, enabling gathering and communication of data. To that spectrum available to it12. These effects can also be founds in the realms government and law enforcement authorities end, the British Army has developed a number Given the range of tasks to which armed of communication links where the technology of to protect citizens, keep transport infrastructure of digital communications systems to function forces are now applied, surveillance does not surveillance as one tool COFDM is, as its acronymic nature results from running smoothly and combat major crime, in, “An extremely complex environment where always occur in battle conditions but might as the convergence of several other technologies terrorism and drug trafficking. With high increasingly large amounts of information must likely occur at sea where forces are deployed to (explained elsewhere in this paper). It has also powered receivers mounted at strategic elevated flow without interruption, whilst being protected deal with piracy or drug smuggling. As on land, in their efforts to maintain made possible a number of applications that positions, video and audio information can be from exploitation or disruption by a technically a COFDM digital video transmitter with integral might previously have been problematic. Some transmitted to local and central monitoring advanced enemy.”10 cameras and GPS will provide a vital and secure of these are in the civil realm and, while this is points… [And] If first responders, such as the situational awareness system for sea based law a defence inclined paper, there is sometimes ambulance service, utilise body worn cameras Land, Sea and Air enforcement operations. The same will also apply safe streets and manage something to be learned from civilian applications at the scene of an accident, they can send This issue has become even more pertinent for air to ground communication requirements of shared technologies. pictures via strategically placed receivers direct with the advent of unmanned ground vehicles where aircraft (often unmanned) are used for At the 20th International Television Symposium to the nearest hospital, enabling accident and (UGVs) in the surveillance role. As Armed Forces theatre surveillance or to track individual threats. in 1997, JH Stott of the BBC explained8; “Coded emergency personnel to prepare for incoming International puts it11; “while the shape & size The information will need to be sent to the the areas for which they Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing patients. Once mobile in the ambulance, all of these unmanned vehicles will continue to operational bases very quickly and accurately to (COFDM) has been specified for Digital the patient’s vital signs can be shared with the evolve, one requirement will remain constant - allow a proper course of action to be determined. Broadcasting systems for both audio – Digital doctors and they can, in turn, offer additional the communications link between personnel and Audio Broadcasting (DAB) – and (terrestrial) advice to paramedics if needed.”9 UGVs must be as reliable as the information being Disruptive Technology are responsible television – Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB-T). gathered. Video, audio, data must be brought COFDM does not only enhance the quality and COFDM is particularly well matched to Technology Transfer back in real-time, clearly, and flawlessly. With speed of communications, it makes possible these applications, since it is very tolerant of It doesn’t take a great leap of imagination to see robust communications equipment essential new types of warfare such as we are increasingly the effects of multipath (provided a suitable how this use type of application for COFDM can to transmitting high bandwidth traffic over seeing in areas where nobody wishes to risk guard interval is used)… However, rather more translate into a useful additional tool for military terrestrial or satellite networks, high quality digital ‘boots on the ground’ but where intelligence and is involved than simply adding coding -- the ‘C’ surveillance operations. It can deal with difficult microwave and COFDM technology provide the action are necessary – truly disruptive technology -- to an uncoded OFDM system. The coding and terrain and levels of interference to transmit a true ideal solution.” in every sense. decoding is integrated in a way which is specially signal from the point of intelligence gathering to www.phoenixaerospace.com tailored to frequency-dependent channels and the point of analysis, decision and action initiation. A wholly owned subsidiary of Enterprise Control Systems Ltd brings much better performance than might Mission outcomes in military surveillance terms Enterprise Control Systems Ltd be thought based on a casual inspection.” are often dependent on the capability of the whole ECS Technology Park, Wappenham, Northants. It is COFDM’s ability to cope with the system to exchange information with maximum NN12 8WJ United Kingdom T: +44 (0) 1327 860050 potentially disruptive effects of urban structures speed and integrity so that not only can the E: [email protected] that makes it particularly suitable for terrestrial specific information be acted on expeditiously www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk digital broadcasting. but also in light of the wider situational awareness.

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Who Needs COFDM? The UK came up with the first digital COFDM Peter Dunwell, Correspondent Microwave links late in the 1990s for video surveillance.

It’s surprising how many great applications there are These should be provided alongside military for a technology that revolutionises communications links Delivering world-class surveillance as well as police control systems surveillance and inhibition capability

The system copes well Enabling Technology advantages that COFDM provides; if a few be crucial in air surveillance, search and rescue COFDM is the enabling technology behind carriers are lost to multipath, the lost data can services, government missions, border patrol, a revolution in broadcasting and electronic be easily recovered by error coding.” COFDM medical missions and general utility duties to when line of sight is communications. In his paper, ‘The how and can cope better than other systems with echoes support the community.”16 why of COFDM’, JH Stott explains; “DAB and reflections. It is also a useful technology for communication (unlike its AM and FM predecessors) was in previously ‘hostile to communication’ places especially designed to cope with the rigours Police and Civil Applications such as mines using a mesh in which one of the not always available of reception in moving cars – especially the Police forces certainly understand the value. mesh nodes is run along the main mine shaft to problem of multipath reception which, in this For instance, for the Beijing Olympics, Beijing facilitate Ethernet, data, video and audio services. case, is time-varying. For DVB-T, a higher capacity Police used two helicopters, vehicles and a base It doesn’t just offer mine security but also can add Closely spaced sub-carrier of a COFDM signal than DAB was essential, mobile reception was network fitted with COFDM technology from a to mine safety with better communications and because the way it Identify early Decide fast not a priority, but multi-path tolerance was still British firm to enhance their ability to manage the ability to monitor machinery. important because of the widespread use of the Olympic park, its environs and the wider These should be provided alongside military constructs transmissions set-top TV antennas. A new form of modulation city during the event. The equipment enabled surveillance as well as police control systems. Military Service – COFDM – was chosen for both systems, albeit the police to upload pictures from vehicles so In video surveillance systems, there should be In military service17, “COFDM digital microwave with differences in detail, and with appropriate that the picture could then be re-broadcast safe and secure COFDM Microwave uplinks and provides clear advantages over alternative changes of parameters, to suit the different simultaneously along with an image from downlinks to the international helicopter providers radio technologies in the delivery of video, allows signals to go requirements of DAB and DVB-T. Both systems the gyro stabilised camera mounted on the for a complete VIP protection. Covert and overt audio, and data. These advantages are easily include a degree of flexibility.” helicopter. This ability to achieve real-time COFDM video surveillance systems enable the demonstrated over long distances and in surveillance data use gave the police instant security personnel to monitor and record critical unforgiving environments where significant around obstacles without Other Uses situational awareness which was described as data through line of sight (LOS) and non-line of multipath interference occurs.” That ‘all-terrain’ ability to function without line a force multiplier, i.e. it allowed the police to do sight (NLOS) transmission systems. They are COFDM based technologies can support of sight is also useful in other contexts. News more and to do it more effectively. used in infrastructure protection, monitoring specific operations such as the sea and air causing interference at organisations that need to be able to survey In other applications, COFDM is a valued part serious crimes, policing public order as well as surveillance of a particular area. They can a cityscape for local programming find that of the ‘protection’ toolkit for those assigned to identifying and monitoring terrorist threats.” also focus down to one battlefield where an COFDM allows them far more scope in where protect VIPs15. “The mobility of the VIPs determines As well as police and protection forces, border individual unit can detect threats and where they they go and from where they can broadcast. the technology that has been employed as guards find the system greatly improves their are coming from in order to inform their own the receiving end COFDM offers a number of advantages over well as its flexibility and portability. The mobility performance. “The Estonian Police and Border actions or to call in external force such as air conventional microwave for which either a line of the operations as well as the targets needs Guard have recently received delivery of a state strikes. And a whole surveillance system to serve of sight or a devised path is necessary in order to be covered with appropriate surveillance of the art COFDM Microwave Downlink System national security and defence can use COFDM to get food communication. Also conventional systems. Surveillance requires that information designed and manufactured by [a British technology in linking units on land, at sea and can be distorted. COFDM be consolidated, stored and ultimately processed supplier] to equip their new AW139 medium in the air with the main command centre and does not require line of sight or a devised [in] real time in order for the management to be twin helicopters. The downlink equipment will mission management centre. pathway nor will it be degraded or distorted by able to control on the spot decisions inside the outside influences. headquarters. The systems should be such that The system copes well when line of sight there is no gap between the on-site operation is not always available because the way it and the centralised information management… constructs transmissions allows signals to go With increased insecurities among the royalties, www.phoenixaerospace.com around obstacles without causing interference celebrities and various government dignitaries, A wholly owned subsidiary of Enterprise Control Systems Ltd at the receiving end (see elsewhere in this there is a high demand for RF jamming Enterprise Control Systems Ltd paper for technical explanations). Microwave capabilities from the security personnel. The UK ECS Technology Park, Wappenham, Northants. Communications14 described the capability as, came up with the first digital COFDM Microwave NN12 8WJ United Kingdom T: +44 (0) 1327 860050 “[benefitting] greatly from the inherent multipath links late in the 1990s for video surveillance. E: [email protected] www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk

14 | www.defenceindustryreports.com www.defenceindustryreports.com | 15 SPECIAL REPORT: NEXT GENERATION COFDM MICROWAVE LINKS FOR MILITARY SURVEILLANCE Defence Industry Reports… the References: Deleadingfence In specialistdustry Re pcombinedorts….the 1  Scribd http://www.scribd.com/doc/22214924/What-is-COFDM-The-Modulation-Scheme-That-DAB-Uses-Is onlineleadin researchg special andist c networkingombined 2 The how and why of COFDM tech.ebu.ch/docs/techreview/trev_278-stott.pdf (paste into address bar for download) online research and networking

3 resource for senior military and Tektronix http://www.tek.com/support/faqs/what-does-cofdm-stand resource for senior military and 4 TechTarget on SearchNetworking http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/COFDM defence industry professionals. defence industry professionals. 5 Armed Forces International, ‘Digital Microwave Strengthens Unmanned Ground Vehicle Operations’

http://www.armedforces-int.com/article/satellite-communications-services.html

6 COFDM http://www.digitaltvbooks.com/cofdm.pdf

7 Cobham www.cobham.com/media/28863/domo_product_catalogue.pdf

8 JH Stott at the 20th International Television Symposium in 1997 http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/publications/rdreport_1997_04

9 Cobham www.cobham.com/media/28863/domo_product_catalogue.pdf • Up• toUp the to theminute minute Industry Industry and and Technology News News and and other other content content available available to 10 Army MoD http://www.army.mod.uk/signals/25212.aspx to allall site site users users on aa free free of of charge, charge, open open access access basis. basis. • Qualified• Qualified signed signed up up members members are ableable to to access access premium premium content content Special Special 11 Armed Forces International http://www.armedforces-int.com/article/satellite-communications-services.html ReportsReports and and interact interact with with their their peerspeers using using a varietya variety of advanced of advanced online online networkingnetworking tools. tools. 12 PA Consulting Report Defence Demand for Spectrum 2008-2027 • Designed to help users identify new technical solutions, understand the http://www.scribd.com/doc/32871912/UK-MOD-Spectrum and scroll to ‘Other options for reducing spectrum requirement in this band’. • Designed to help users identify new technical solutions, understand the implicationsimplications of differentof different technical technical choices and and select select the thebest best solutions solutions 13 The how and why of COFDM tech.ebu.ch/docs/techreview/trev_278-stott.pdf (paste into address bar for download) available.available. • Thought• Thought Leadership Leadership – -Advice Advice and guida guidancence from from internationally internationally recognised recognised 14 Microwave Radio Communications ‘ COFDM versus QAM and VSB in ENG/ HD-ENG’ defencedefence industry industry key key opinion opinion leaders.leaders http://www.vislink.com/documentation/whitepapers/COFDM%20versus%20QAM%20andVSB.pdf • Peer• Peer Input Input – Contributions - Contributions fromfrom seniorsenior military military personnel personnel and defenceand defence industry professionals 15 Surveillance Systems for VIP protection http://www.charge-me.co.uk/tag/cofdm-technologies/ industry professionals. • Independent Editorial Content - Expert and authoritative analysis from award • Independent Editorial Content – Expert and authoritative analysis from winning journalists and leading industry commentators 16 SooperArticles http://www.sooperarticles.com/news-society-articles/technology-news-articles/cofdm-microwave-downlink-systems-550961.html award winning journalists and leading industry commentators. • Unbiased Supplier Provided Content • Unbiased Supplier Provided Content. 17 BMS http://www.bms-inc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/BMS_Security_Defensev3.pdf • Designed to facilitate debate • Designed• Written to to facilitate the highest debate. professional standards • Written to the highest professional standards.

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