GEC-Marconi Hazeltine's communications sys-tems product line includes adaptive wireless network systems (AWNS) that comprise two major products: the secure packet radio (SPR) and the AN/VRC-99 secure digital network radio (SDNR).
In 1992, Hazeltine won a contract to design, develop and deliver a secure version of its AN/ PRC-118 low-cost packet radio (LPR). The new SPR was to provide a data or voice capability with an embedded COMSEC capability. After delivery of the radio, the Communications-Electronics Command at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey expressed interested in its use for the US Army's task force XXI exercise planned for March 1997 at the national training centre at Fort Irwin, CA. The army utilised advanced con-cept technology (ACT-II) contracts with Hazeltine for demonstrations of the SPR capabilities in the joint warrior interoperability demonstration (JWID-94) where the SPR was utilised to pro-vide surrogate satellite range extension aboard a Guardrail aircraft and mobile command post communications. More than 100 KBps trans-mission was demonstrated. In addition, members of CECOM supported the use of the SPR in the DARPA advanced unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) programme with Lockheed Martin Astronautics in Denver, CO. Also the SPR was selected under the CECOM RDEC programme for the future digital radio (FDR) broad agency announcement for evaluation for TF XXI use. Dual awards were made. A week after contract award, delivery of five Hazeltine bid samples of the secure packet radio to the CECOM RDEC was completed. The SPR faced a detailed evaluation by CECOM RDEC and was selected as the radio of choice for task force XXI. Hazel-tine has delivered an additional 26 SPRs that have been renamed by CECOM RDEC as the surrogate digital radio (SDR) for use in TF XXI.
Currently SDRs are residing with the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, TX.
| Secure packet radio (SPR)/Army TF XXI surrogate digital radio |
It is reported that the SDRs are performing well on all platforms including C2V, BCV, A2C2S and system integration vehicles (SIVs). The SPR/ SDR supports both 100 and 400 KBps burst rates with a programmable networking processor that enables deterministic TDMA/FDMA channel access in a PN code direct-sequence spread-spectrum modulation format. The deterministic channel access/network protocol supports between 2 and 16 subscribers in a shared 200 KBps network. This provides multiple network users with speed of service and low latency simultaneous communications support, unlike current tactical radios that are bandwidth limi-ted. In addition, the National Security Agency (NSA) endorsement of the embedded network encryptor, the KIV-14, provides a secret high INFOSEC capability for secure efficient information network routing.
Simultaneous to these efforts, Hazeltine was awarded a development contract by CECOM RDEC for a future command post radio that was to be utilised as a tactical wireless local area net-work (TWLAN). Soon after Hazeltine's selection in September 1993, the development model was renamed wireless network access (WNA). WNA radio-advanced developmental model (ADM) prototypes were delivered in April 1995. These had 12 channels of digital non-secure voice terminal (DNVT) capability along with an IEEE 802.3 LAN for data terminals. After a successful on-the-move field demonstration at JWID-95 at the Battle Command Battle Lab (BCBL) at Fort Gordon, GA, this technology programme led to the development of the next adaptive wireless network product, the AN/VRC-99 secure digital network radio (SDNR).
| AN/VRC-99( ) TIBCNR with internal 10-watt power amplifier for THAAD |
The SDNR is a 1200-2000 MHz broadband direct-sequence spread-spectrum pseudo ran-dom noise (DSPN) modulated wideband radio that employs an embedded NSA-endorsed KIV- 14A INDICTOR-based TS SCI high header bypass INFOSEC capability. SDNR provides users with 31 RF channels and has an ECAC JF 12 #07061 frequency approval. The design employs a pro-grammable network processor that supports split frame TDMA/FDMA in the case of SDNR for the intelligence and electronic warfare com-mon sensor (IEWCS) system. IEWCS is the US Army's intelligence and electronic warfare (IEW) battle functional area (BFA) top modernisation priority in the US Army modernisation plan. The SDNR networks three IEWCS subsystems across an army divisional zone between 16 platforms. The three subsystems supported include the Lockheed Sanders TACJAM-A, Lockheed Martin (Oswego, NY) communication high accuracy location system eXploitable (CHALS-X), and Condor electronic intelligence (ELINT). The AN/ VRC-99 SDNR supports 312KBps and 625KBps burst rates.
| AN/VRC-99 mission equipment control data link (MECDL) with 50-watt PA |
The AN/VRC-99( ) theater high altitude area defense (THAAD) internal battery communica-tions network radio (TIBCNR) is the network radio selected by the theater high altitude area defense (THAAD) program office (TPO). THAAD is the army theater missile defense's (ATMD) top modernisation priority for air defense in the US Army modernisation plan. The AN/VRC-99( ) TIBCNR is an enhanced AN/VRC-99 SDNR with technology insertions from the wireless network access (WNA) radio programme. TIBC-NR supports THAAD internal battery communications. The network includes ground-based radars (GBRs), tactical operations centres (TOCs)/ launcher control stations (LCSs), communica-tions relays (CRs) and THAAD missile launchers. Because of THAAD missile intercept require-ments, TIBCNR's network is designed to provide high-throughput, low-latency GBR Trac updates to THAAD missile launchers. TIBCNR is a 1308-1484MHz broadband DSPN wideband radio with 22 RF channels. A voice interface module (VIM) has been incorporated that supports THAAD requirements for up to four DNVT phones for voice per radio. Modularity within the TIBCNR design provides for the addition of four channel voice cards if addi-tional voice channels are required. Substitution with a CTIC DS101 hybrid module (CDM) with header bypass was chosen as the INFOSEC in place of the KIV-14A in SDNR. The CDM allows the TIBCNR to support burst rates from 157 KBps to 10 MBps. Enhancements also were made to the ECCM capabilities of the TIBCNR by fre-quency hopping the DSPN waveform.
AN/VRC-99 TIBCNRs provide digital battlespace users with the bandwidth to support the multimedia digital terminal equipment (DTE) of either an army command and control vehicle (C2V), army battle command vehicle (BCV), or a marine corps advanced amphibious assault vehicle (A3V) with a single wideband secure waveform that supports voice, workstation data and imagery with growth for video requirements.
GEC-Marconi Hazeltine's adaptive network system products, the SPR/SDR and the AN/VRC-99 SDNR/TIBCNR are significant wideband wireless secure networking radios that are making a difference in sensor-to-shooter high- throughput low-latency multimedia commu-nications support. It is digital communications equipment such as these adaptive net-work system products that will establish new digital battlefield standards.
