Overcoming stressed satellite networks using alternative communications

As advanced communications techniques reach capacity, have reduced performance or system availability, or become unusable, the warfighter must have a reliable, high-capacity communications system in place and standing ready to supplant the degrading systems. Events in the recent past have shown satellites vulnerable to a number of ills or potential problems that could be debilitating. This paper addresses supporting the warfighter as satellite communications (SATCOM) vanishes during stressed communications conditions such as jamming. The text presents example networks encompassing representative operational conditions and scenarios. Various analysis results present available user rates, expected latencies, and network capacities replacing the stressed SATCOM links as well as future potential research directions.