Integrated Cyber and Electronic Warfare Infrastructure

SOCOM is one of the most vital force projection elements for the Department of Defense. SOCOM’s mission is a lean, agile, and lethal force. While deployed in austere, challenged and contested environments, vigilance of incoming threats from an adversary is highly important and time critical. In addition, the size and nature of the terrain may be significant, and operations may be stealthy or contested to the point that long-range communication for space- or aircraft-based ISR information unavailable. For these reasons, SOCOM teams require a capability to disperse a variety of sensing devices that can identify threats from adversary ISR activities (such as UAVs and ground-based forces). A forward deployed sensor mesh will help detect cyber risks, tactical RF risks, environmental conditions, CBRN factors, movement in and around the areas, EW methods, and an enhanced multi-modal and multi-dimensional battlespace environment that will help IoBT swarming of humans, machines, sensors, and autonomous systems in surveillance/reconnaissance, deployment, and support missions. In addition, SOCOM teams require equipment that is rapidly deployable, light weight and small size, reliable and rugged, easy to use, with low probability of intercept/detection RF (LPI/LPD) with jamming resistance, intelligent, and ultra-secure communication, analytics, and decision support. Our objective with this D2P2 proposal is leverage our previous Requirements Analysis exploring the needs, gaps, and requirements for an early RF detection capability for SOCOM and other stakeholders and explore technical feasibility and tradeoffs for an integrated, stealthy (LPI/LPD, anti-jam/spoof) sensor and personnel communications wireless network. The goal of the Phase II is to develop and refine prototypes implementing these capabilities; define modes of operation, dynamics, and features; and perform thorough test and evaluation in field conditions with SOCOM personnel, resulting in products available for acquisition and use.