Using a P2P architecture for voice and radar transportation in critical command and control systems

The Brazilian air traffic service is constituted by a civil and a military organization, which provide tracking (radar), voice and data communication (VHF, UHF and HF) services, through an integrated network. To optimize the management of its air traffic system, Brazil divides the airspace into four independent Regional Centers. In each of these regions, the existing sensors (radars and radios) send information and products to only one of the Regional Centers, forming a star topology. In case of impediment in one Regional Center (eg, electrical failure or terrorist attack), even if the service node is able to send its information, the Regional Center will collapse, since there is no means to process the information generated locally. The solution presented in this article, develops the redundancy of the system through the digitization of audio and radar signals and its subsequent transport using an peer-to-peer network. To validate this proposal, experimental flights were developed. In these flights, aircraft flying over the city of Manaus (in the center of Amazonia) were coordinated by a center installed in Brasilia, which is located about 1000 km away. After these experiments, it was concluded that using this new architecture, we can provide a performance similar to those currently in operation, enabling air traffic systems, as well as those of similar function (eg coordination of civil defense and police ) to be operated with a high degree of reliability, even when they meet a hostile environment.