Covert Communications System for SOCOM Combat Craft

"The purpose of this project is to provide technology for local and global communication with SOCOM combat craft. Specific communication protocols will be designed to optimize the tradeoffs among security, bandwidth, and error rate. The starting point willbe our work on frequency hopped protocols for integrated voice-data transmission. Communications functions will be integrated into the TSi Trident Bridge Data Manager (BDM) system. The BDM includes communications functions together with on-board systemsfor data acquistion, cameras, night vision, and other sensors (engine order, turbo-charger RPM, etc.) for ship data, GPS based position determination, and wireless distress signaling for use in emergencies. The Trident BDM uses satellite transceivers forsending data from a ship to the Trident Command Center (TCC) and for receiving command signals from the TCC. In the proposed project TSi will adapt and enhance the Trident BDM technology package to provide a communications interface to the SOCOM IBS. Alldata transmissions will be encrypted. Functions will be provided to manage communications links. Local transmissions will be based on FH spread-spectrum technology. Using COTS satellite transceivers and Army tactical radio networks, the system can betested in Phase I, and an effective operational system delivered in Phase II. The Trident technology is already in commercial use. The secure communications functions developed in this proj