Secure/Covert Short Range Combat Wireless Network

ABSTRACT: Standard commercial wireless protocols are regularly used to attach peripheral devices to personal area controllers. These protocols (such as Bluetooth or WiFi) and associated hardware are very low cost and manufactured by many dozens of vendors. But they are not meant for secure, covert applications where stealth is needed. Furthermore, these protocols are easily jammed or exploited. What is needed for the warfighter are new, secure, compact wireless datalink devices that attach to their standard commercial USB or Ethernet ported peripherals. Such a secure/covert network needs to be easily used by non-technical personnel, with plug-n-play installation. It also requires that if lost, these devices cannot be used to attach to any secure network. Spectranetix proposes to build a high frequency, spread spectrum, high bandwidth wireless network. Standard AES-256 encryption will be used. Phase I will provide the complete design, down to the chipsets, schematics, and antenna designs. We will also finish (and demonstrate during Phase I) the discovery algorithms and communications protocols. Phase II will accomplish the development of working breadboard prototypes, along with the antennas, followed by system-on-chip implementations as well as compact packaging. Phase III will be the production and manufacturing stage. BENEFIT: Secure communications and tactical networking Low probability of intercept communications First responder location and communications