A Maritime Pointing and Tracking Model for Free Space Optical Communications in Military Use Cases

Due to increasing congestion found in the electro-magnetic spectrum, alternatives must be explored for future communication capabilities. Free Space Optical Communications (FSOC) has the potential to achieve secure, reliable, pervasive, and high-performance wireless connectivity. In this paper, the advantages / disadvantages of the application of FSOC in military use cases will be discussed with a review of the related research. We will provide a case study on the simulation of a camera-based pointing and tracking system deployed on an above-water platforms (Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier / Archer Class patrol vessel). This paper was originally presented at the NATO Science and Technology Organization Symposium (ICMCIS) organized by the Information Systems Technology (IST) Panel, IST-200RSY - the ICMCIS, held in Skopje, North Macedonia, 16–17 May 2023