Leveraging Enabling, Commercial Technologies into Tactical SATCOM

"The powerful technologies of today and tomorrow emerge from the digital revolution - namely, computing ("DSP") and storage. Cell phones, satellite TV, and indoor wireless networking - are beneficiaries, and represent large commercial markets. A challengeremains, however, in sending high data rate signals to mobile, vehicular users with small antennas. This next generation "On-Star" system, combining in-car entertainment and "telematics", is set to take center stage in the automobile market.In the tactical mobile world, wide area terrestrial communication is usually not an option. Applying these same technologies in the SATCOM world, however, may have a significant impact in: (1) reducing the cost of the mobile terminal (2) providing improvedimmunity to detection, and (3) providing improved high data rates, especially on the downlink. Cost reduction, lower power transmitters, and lower profile "tracking" antennas may benefit from this transfer. This effort will explore the use of commercial "spread spectrum" technology (especially modems) to achieve these objectives for both existing satellite platforms and new systems. The effects on other elements of the system (satellite, tracking antenna.)will also be evaluated. Based on the study results, the commercialization plan will be refined and a second implementation phase proposed. The potential benefits of a successful application of high volume, advanced commercial spread spectrum