A Survivable Network of Ground Relays for Tactical Data Communications

The rationale and a preliminary design concept are presented for a new mobile ground-to-ground communications system to support tactical command and control. Survivability is attained through high connectivity, antenna directivity, and spread-spectrum signals. Each node of the proposed network is equipped with a circular cylindrical array antenna capable of steering a narrow beam in the direction of one of its several neighbors. A single transceiver operates half-duplex m a flexible time-division format among the multiple links at a node. Each link uses a unique pseudonoise code, and the network as a whole employs code-division multiple access. Mobility and survivability are enhanced because a single equipment supports multiple links while providing the benefits of high antenna gain and directivity. Network entry and synchronization schemes are considered. System parameters are defined and link power budgets for signal-to-jammer and signal-to-noise ratios are calculated. Implementation prospects are addressed drawing on technology developments in antenna arrays, surface-acoustic wave signal processing, and adaptive routing in packet networks.