Back Channel for LVC Training

To support Navy Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) training for surface fleets during periods of long transit, the Navy would like to implement an alternative communication path that can link shore-based trainers and simulation capabilities with trainers and training systems afloat. To support full spectrum training during the training events, there is a desire to selectively turn off communications systems to replicate the degraded environment. When the real-world systems are turned off, then current training paradigms, i.e., the “white cell” training data are also cut off. The proposed effort will implement a shore-to-ship and shore-to-aircraft alternative communication paths. For both of these paths we propose to use a commercial SATCOM provider. The shore-to-ship solution will use an innovative distributed aperture approach for superstructure blockage mitigation, RF over fiber, and a coherent combiner. The shore-to-aircraft antenna solution will be very low SWaP, enabling placement on unutilized areas on the aircraft. These systems will be focused on a solution that can utilize Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites (e.g. Starlink or Iridium NEXT). Given the infancy of these LEO solutions, the technology will be designed to be flexible in its approach, allowing the Navy to use alternate SATCOM services as they become available.