An emulator for the network stack of Integrated Modular Systems

The networked integration of military systems can enable timely exploitation of intelligence and offer strategic advantages in the battlefield. Despite operating under harsh, hostile conditions, tactical networks have many similarities with typical wireless ad-hoc networks. The UK Ministry of Defence Standard 00-74 attempts to standardise an architecture for integrated avionics and includes the specification of a three layer network stack for the message exchange between applications on board a system. As part of our work, we developed an emulator for this network stack. Furthermore, we have designed and implemented a service discovery mechanism for mobile ad hoc networks. This paper focuses on disclosing the emulator's design and implementation details. We also discuss the emulator's integration with the service discovery mechanism in order to achieve scalable, reconfigurable off board communications towards IPv6 based systems of systems.