Advanced In-Flight Interceptor Communications System (IFICS) Error Detection/Correction

The objective of this SBIR to optimize Efficient Channel Coding's (ECC's) advanced and flexible turbo code Forward Error Correction (FEC) solutions to improve the robustness of the In-Flight Interceptor Communications System (IFICS) link performance. Thisincludes the evaluation of a range of turbo code options in the fading channel environments as produced by nuclear weapons effects in the ionosphere. It also includes the customization of ECC's turbo code implementation technology that is suitable forreceiver implementation in a Ground Based Interceptor (GBI). Additionally, the turbo codes developed under this SBIR will also find applications in commercial satellite-based and terrestrial communications systems.ECC's turbo codes are advanced and flexible in the sense that the algorithms that are employed for decoding have been designed and implemented to performance within 1 dB of the theoretical limit in reasonable complexity hardware across a range ofapplications. This allows ECC to customize the turbo code to span from very low data rates to Gbps rates with implementations ranging from software to full-custom semiconductors.As a recognized leader in turbo coding technology and products, Efficient Channel Coding (ECC) has been developing turbo code hardware and software for government and commercial applications since 1996. Our expertise includes selecting the appropriateturbo code approach for the specific type of communications channel from both the hardware and performance. ECC has pioneered the use of turbo codes in satellite communications and has applied turbo codes to approximately 20 different commercial andgovernment communications systems. Turbo Code solutions that are suitable for the IFICS system can be applied to additional markets where low power consumption, small footprints, and excellent performance in fading channels are important. As such, ECC feels that the work completed aspart of this SBIR has the potential to open up additional markets, much in the same way that our original implementation turbo codes did. General market areas include consumer satellite communications, corporate satellite communications, governmentcommunications, and commercial broadband terrestrial communications.