Enhanced High Data Rate Tactical Networking

Modern C4I operations demand robust, high data rate tactical information networking. Including pictures and compressed video in such a system can further enhance the tactical advantage--allowing visual coordination, target identification, attack damage assessment, and perhaps even enabling terminal stage control of weapons such as cruise missiles. Just as important, a high throughput and reliable C4I network can minimize the potential for fratricide in conflicts where it is becoming more and more difficult to distinguish friend from foe. This proposal offers concepts for enhancing current AF tactical distribution networks such as JTIDS to include compressed images and video and to support even higher data rates. Approaches to increasing data rates to over T1 rates (>1.5 Mbps) without changing the waveforms' spectral characteristics are proposed. A test bed for testing the transmission of compressed video over these enhanced links as well as existing links such as standard JTIDS is also offered. High level, cost effective implementations will be derived, tested, sized, and documented.