There are few aspects of life that have not been revolutionised by the dramatic developments in computer-based communications systems that have taken place in the last decade of the 21st century. The world's armed forces have been at the forefront of this revolution to provide advanced communications during peace and war.
| Peacekeeping operations are impossible without reliablecommunications |
Military communication systems no longer encompass simple field telephones and radio sets. Armed forces now field extensive systems that link the means of communication such as radio or telephone lines with computers to format information, distribute it within head-quarters and record it electronically. All these have to be able to work together to ensure a system is operational. In military jargon they are called command, control, communications and information systems (C3I).
As armed forces come to rely on communications systems, they are being recognised as a major vulnerability and an opportunity. In the US, the buzzword is information warfare, while in the British armed forces the term command and control warfare is used. Either name encompasses providing effective communication links to friendly forces, destroying enemy communications systems and protecting friendly communications from interference.
| Modern military forces rely on radio communications |
This article concentrates on developments in communications and protective systems for ground forces rather than offensive information warfare.
This is the most simple and widely available form of military communications system. Combat net radio (CNR) comprises voice radio links between individuals or units on the battle-field. Separate units operate on different frequencies to allow information to be channelled to specific users. These are either manpack very high frequency (VHF), high frequency (HF) or ultra high frequency (UHF) radio sets or more powerful radios installed in vehicles.
CNR is termed as all-informed, meaning that every station listening in can follow the progress of an operation and act accordingly. It is the best way to ensure units respond quickly in dynamic battlefield situations. Only one station can broadcast at a time so it is not ideal for the passage of long messages or discrete one-to-one conversations between senior commanders.
These small radios can be fitted with frequency hopping and encryption devices to prevent the enemy listening into friendly radio traffic. This equipment is expensive and few armies distribute such systems below company level. However, special forces and other important units tend to receive totally secure radio equipment.
Increasingly modern armies are relying on so-called trunk systems to provide communications for their high-brigade, divisional, corps and theatre-level headquarters. Trunk systems are best described as equivalent to a telephone network that can be moved around the battle-field, providing voice, fax or data/e-mail links. Trunk nodes or telephone switching exchanges can be moved around the battlefield by truck or helicopter. The nodes and subscribers are linked by either UHF radio, cable or satellite. Trunk systems are ideal for connecting to computer data links to allow real-time or live transmission of data such as air defence radar pictures to different command posts or air defence missile batteries. These data distribution systems can be customised for different needs such as air defence, logistics, personnel matters and intelligence. The use of live databases enables many different users to receive large amounts of up-to-date data rapidly. The reliance of trunk systems on digital technology means they can be fitted with encryption devices easily to protect them from enemy eavesdropping.
Truck systems such as the British Army's Ptarmigan or the French Army's RITA system have been used in the Gulf War and Bosnia. In Bosnia, the systems have been linked together and connectivity has reached unprecedented levels, replicating an entire country's telephone system.
A major growth area in military communications has been in the use of satellite to provide strategic links over long distances or to supplement terrestrial-based communications systems.
| Satellite communications are used for strategic communications |
Satellite telephone/fax, radio and data/e-mail communication links provide reliable communications over very long distances. These have been essential in the conduct of global military operations such as the Gulf War.
In peacekeeping operations where the local telephone infrastructure has been destroyed or warring factions prevent access for radio rebroadcast or trunk nodes, satellite links provide a means to bounce communications up into space and down to where they are needed. This technique, known as a satellite bridge, allows trunk networks to be extended over great distances without the need to deploy large numbers of expensive nodes.
Most western armies now are involved in researching the so-called virtual reality battle-field. The aim is to link every soldier via a data link to headquarters to allow the instant transmission of information around the battlefield.
This will result in video images from sensors on soldiers, armoured vehicles or aircraft being watched in intelligence centres and facilitating rapid command decisions. This information will be passed around the battlefield instantly so soldiers will know the location of the enemy and their comrades.
| Most armies use manpack radios such as the British Clansman PRC351 VHF radio set |
Three-dimensional images and two-dimensional map-modelling techniques are being merged into these digital communications systems to allow the visualisation of battlefield situations. They also will be linked to training simulators to enable troops to rehearse and simulate combat operations before contact with the enemy.
| Patriot anti-ballistic missile defence systems need reliable communications systems to react to threats moving at supersonic speeds |
The explosion of communication systems on the modern battlefield also provides the enemy with even greater opportunities to intercept and interrupt the friendly C3I network, either collecting valuable intelligence or physically blocking communications at key moments.
With a growing number of radios linked to live data links, it is almost impossible to prevent the enemy plotting the position of friendly forces from their radio transmissions. Using satellite links provides a degree of protection from direction-finding equipment but not much if the enemy has its own satellite capability.
| Every communication system is vulnerable to enemy information warfare attacks |
The answer may lie in the development of new technologies such as laser beams to move communications out of vulnerable elements of the electromagnetic spectrum. Iraq's high command in the Gulf War protected its strategic communications from allied eavesdropping throughout the conflict with the use of fibre-optic cables instead of radios.
