XSITE - SF241-0014 - MUOS SATCOM Simulator Connectivity Over IP (Phase I Proposal)

Current MUOS operational, platform integration, and terminal communities lack a common terminal performance support toolset. End-usersĀdonÆt have the tools they need to make informed decisions and the complexity of MUOS makes this a true roadblock.Ā Cellular-type connectivity from a SATCOM system brings challenges that can be grouped as follows:ĀTerminal and satellite power control management, Multiple access interference (MAI), Highly dynamic UHF propagation channels, Complex cell selection (64 cells per satellite), Mobility & handover/handoff, and Secure communications (cryptographic management).Ā Terminal development and platform integration programs being separated from the MUOS Program Office (SSC/CGN) perpetuate these changes leaving the terminal community with questions they arenÆt equipped to answer.ĀIn our experience working with the MUOS Program Office, the Consolidated SATCOM System Experts (CSSE), terminal developers, and platform integrators, weÆve witnessed both challenges, andĀefforts to bridge these gaps. Some capable testing and analysis tools have been built for MUOS such as: MUOS Performance Model (MPM), MUOS Modeling & Simulation Tool (MST), MUOS Terminal Link Budget, Systems Took Kit (STK) scenarios, NavyÆs JEDI laboratory, MUSIC laboratory, UHF Link Effects Simulator, Mighty MUOOS, and AFSIM. These specialized tools are designed for very specific purposes. Missing is an enterprise collection of these tools with appropriate interfaces. This enterprise collection could greatly benefit if architected in a common language (i.e. SysML)ĀandĀbuilt following industry best practices for Digital EngineeringĀand Model Based Systems Engineering. Ā We call our proposed solution the MUOS Terminal Performance Toolkit (M-TPTK). Changes to some of the existing tools will be required based on the results of a proposed study. Some current limitations include single satellite simulators (not multiple), different support by terminal type (ARC-210 vs PRC-117G), access and availability of models and tools, and dispersed physical or logical locations (contractor facilities, government facilities, cloud hosted, NIPR, SIPR, etc.).Ā The M-TPTK would provide a collective environment allowing the gap to be bridged between disjointed terminal users (developers, platform integrators, testers, and mission planners) and the MUOS system experts. This new capability would also enable the evaluation and testing of cross-systems network topologies, such as, from MUOS terminals in disadvantaged environments to the larger operational control networks, and to localized tactical networks.Ā This Phase 1 proposal includes identification and evaluation of current MUOS tools (models, simulators, modeling software, model integrating/orchestrating software, processing capabilities, hardware, etc.), development of a SysML systems architecture, proof-of-concept capability demonstration, final technical report of the findings, and recommendation plan for transition to Phase 2.Ā