Evaluating an IP-based tactical communication network for highly mobile units

In a tactical communication network, nodes can be stationary, movable or fully mobile. Data traffic going to and from these nodes can have full transparency throughout the network and they should not depend on the underlying topology forming the transport layer. The Swedish Armed Forces has a large-scale network based on a stable infrastructure utilizing moveable microwave links. This network has been extended with the possibility for highly mobile units to connect wirelessly through VHF radio. The main task of the mobile unit is not to communicate, rather to produce or receive situational awareness together with other tasks. Therefore, a main goal has been to make a system that is fully automatic, seamless and capable to combat interference from unwanted sources. Another important issue is the selection of a network type that is easy to scale, based on COTS solutions and where lots of research has been performed in order to use the system in the best possible way. The paper, formed by field experience, shows the results from such a system where frequency hopping combat net radios (CNRs) together with MIL-STD-188-220A based TCIMs and ordinary PCs form the central part in the communication link. This allows IP-based data and routing traffic to be transported to and from mobile units at a low, but many times fully sufficient speed, depending on CNR capacity.