New generation features for tactical wireless communication networks

Mobility of forces, increased range between formations and advances in data processing technologies call for new technical solutions for tactical communication networks. Access to fast, secure and reliable communications is more than ever before the key to success. Different services and different applications should be supported. This paper outlines developments in data transport capabilities, functionality and performance of tactical wireless communication networks and discusses the depiction of these developments in evolving standardized protocols and interfaces. Important issues such as line of sight transmission, network management, encryption, switching, survivability, modularity, interoperability and performance of the new tactical communication systems are discussed in detail. Increased focus is attributed to new ECCM methods, as electronic warfare becomes more and more sophisticated.