Communications Interoperability
‘down to the desk level !?’
AFCEA Europe16 June 2010
Mons (SHAPE) BelgiumGerard Elzinga
NATO HQ C3 Staff/CINNB
04/10/23 2UNCLASSIFIED
Outline
NATO Environment
Communications environment
Communications Interoperability / Developments: Deployable tactical networks New Concepts Security Wireless networks Software Defined radio SATCOM
2
04/10/23 3UNCLASSIFIED
Military Context Expeditionary operations - Out
of Area Multinational and multi-
agency Coalition of NATO and non-NATO
nations High multinational mix and fine
level of granularity Non-military organisations and
elements play a key part Broad spectrum of conflict
Humanitarian to Peace Making/’War’
Often at the same time in the same Theatre of Operations
Difficult to predict threat (‘Plan for worst case’)
Driving need for increased levels of agility, flexibility and mobility
Dispersed in Theatre 3
04/10/23 4UNCLASSIFIED
NCW / NEC / NNEC
Tenets: Robustly networked forces Information sharing Shared understanding Improved effectiveness
Networking of sensors, command and control nodes and effectors
This requires a Networking and Information Infrastructure - Federated
Technology – People - Information
Sensors
Decisionmakers
Actors
Information Systems& Networks
Sensors
Decisionmakers
Actors
Information Systems& Networks
Information Systems& Networks
4
“The NATO Network Enabled Capability (NNEC) is the Alliance’s cognitive and technical ability to federate the various components of the operational environment from the strategic level (including NATO HQ) down to the tactical level, through a networking and information infrastructure”
04/10/23
Federation of Networks
NATO
Nation
Nation C3 Static e.g. NGCS
C2 Fixed DeployedExtending Static Domain into Theatre, e.g. FOC+
C2 Deployablee.g. Tactical WAN
C2 Mobile (Sensors/ Effectors)e.g. CNR
04/10/23 6UNCLASSIFIED
Communications InteroperabilityTactical Level NATO Assets
NCCAP Deployable CIS
National Assets Bulk of the Equipment Interoperability non assured
Different Operational requirements Various Implementations of same equipment
types Security Are all systems in theatres result of proper
planning or simply crisis acquisitions Role of NATO in Improving Interoperability
04/10/23 7UNCLASSIFIED
Deployable CIS NATO CIS Contingency Assets Pool
(NCCAP): Set up in the Past to support land deployments (ACCAP), Part for maritime NATO HQs afloat (MCCAP)
Concept revisited, now transformed into Deployable CIS Modules (DCM) T/D SGTs, HF, RR LOS, COM and IS Modules
Equipment added, replaced, modernized and/or upgraded
Interim Solutions (LINC(E)) implemented However….Interim ??
04/10/23 8UNCLASSIFIED
Communications Interoperability
Policy level Standards Concepts of Employment Interoperability Policies Architectures
Key multinational initiatives: TACOMS (Post 2000) Security Waveform development Software Defined Radio SATCOM
But also note: Large installed base of national systems, not
easily changed8
04/10/23 9UNCLASSIFIED
Communications Interoperability
(Policy) Standards The beauty of our current sets of Standards is
that there are so many to choose from Identification of those standards that will be
key to achieving interoperability within NNEC (IP capable, modern technologies)
Life Cycle of Standards: Concept to Implementation
Standards themselves are not sufficient (too many options, context): Concepts of Employment
Concepts of Employment Defines context (Operational) Communications Profiles
Standards Implementation options 9
04/10/23 10UNCLASSIFIED
Communications Interoperability
(Policy) Architectures Operational, System, Technical Views Provides guidance on how to implement
Capabilities Not prescriptive for nations, applicable for
NATO, nations can benefit from it Policies
Communications Profiles to de defined depending on Role
‘Enforcement at appropriate levels and by relevant directives’ MC Documentation – e.g. MC 195
Coordination Defence/Force Planning
10
04/10/23 11UNCLASSIFIED
TACOMS
• TACOMS Vision: • “Robust, highly available federated network
based on interconnectivity via converged, high-speed IP interoperability points that support any application and multiple simultaneous classification levels”
• Wired, Tactical Level but nothing would limit wider implementation (e.g. in Strategic Systems)
• Based on Mature Commercial Technologies and Standards
• Phase 1 STANAGs Promulgated – Implemenmtations ongoing
• Phase 2 started: Evolution (IPv6, Mobility…)
11
04/10/23 12UNCLASSIFIED
Security Secure Communications Interoperability
Protocol End-to-End Security over heterogeneous networks Strategic down to Tactical Level Based on a nationally developed set of specifications SATCOM, IP, TDM, Tactical radio Networks TACOMS
NII IP Network Encryption (NINE) Future standard for IP – encryption Based on Commercial IPSec specifications Using National Standard (HAIPE) as a basis for a Alliance
standard Strategic down to Tactical Domain
04/10/23 13UNCLASSIFIED
Protected Core Network
PCS (WAN segment)
PCS (WAN segment)
PCS (WAN segment)
LAN (e.g. HQ)
LAN (e.g. HQ)
LAN (e.g. HQ)
LAN (e.g. HQ)
Z
Z
Z
Z
E
E
E
E
EE
E E
E
PCS= Protected Core Segment
04/10/23 1414 Jan 09 UNCLASSIFIED
Wireless Communications
3-Apr-08
HF
UHFVHF
UHFSHF
EHF
↓VLF
UHF
UHFHF
14
04/10/23 15UNCLASSIFIED 15UNCLASSIFIED
Waveforms
HF Well Defined set of Limited HF Waveforms Upgrade to IP Wide Band HF
BLOS (Non HF, Non SATCOM) Troposcatter revival ?? UAV, balloons ??
V/UHF Limited Interoperability (Capacity, Services)
SATCOM Standards defined: UHF, SHF, EHF SHF being Upgraded
Never Forget: Large Installed Base, need sound Business Case to support implementation new waveforms, radios and alignment of national plans !!
15
04/10/23 1614 Jan 09 UNCLASSIFIED
BLOS MITFref
ELOS AITFref
LOS LITFref
LOS LITFref
ELOS LITFref
BLOS LITFref
SATCOM LITFref
LOS LITFref
ELOS LITFref
ELOS LITFref
16
Wid
e Ban
d W
avef
orm
(WBW
F)
Narro
w Ban
d W
avef
orm
(NBW
F)
04/10/23 17UNCLASSIFIED 17UNCLASSIFIED
NBWF Requirements
1
Nation A Nation B
Interoperability Point
Nation A
Interoperability Point
Interoperability PointNation C
Nation D
17
RBCI
04/10/23 18UNCLASSIFIED 18UNCLASSIFIED
NBWF
Basic Requirements: Secure voice and data communications Radio Based Combat Identification (RBCI) Basic networking capability, sharing of situational awareness Spectrally efficient Initially a non-EPM version, then EPM
Basis of solution: Contributors: CAN, GBR, NLD, NOR, NC3A Physical layer based on CPM, fixed frequency, frequency
hopping Time based media access layer Basic routing protocols Overall waveform architecture
Draft STANAG for Physical Layer Work ongoing for MAC Layer
Security Principles under discussion18Physical Layer
Media Access Layer
Network Layer
On air encryption
04/10/23 19UNCLASSIFIED 19UNCLASSIFIED
WBWF
Operational Requirements: Draft Available Discussions ongoing with other int’l initiatives
COALWNW 9 Nations , USA Lead
ESSOR 6 Nations, European Lead
Secure voice and data communications RBCI not part of requirements
19
04/10/23
Mobile Network Evaluation
NCOIC Working Group Technology Tenets:
IP architecture tenets Information Assurance tenets Mobility tenets
Use Cases: Coalition Defence Mobile Emergency Communications Interoperability
(MECI) Evaluation of existing standards
20UNCLASSIFIED
04/10/23 21UNCLASSIFIED
Software Defined Radio Strands of work within NATO:
NATO Industrial Advisory Group study Business Models for SDR Cooperation Aim to improve Interoperability Report: Waveform standardization, IPR, Security
etc. Research and Technology Organization (RTO)
Regular Task Group Demonstrate Portability SDR SCA Compliant
Waveform (ST 4285) & Interoperability SDR User’s Group Framework for sharing of
waveform software Working new model for SDR standardisation
(w/ EDA), architectectural bits: 3 baskets model: 1 part open , 1 part restricterd to coalition partners, 1 private for nations
Interaction EDA, OCCAR, ESSOR, Wireless Innovation Forum (SDRForum)
04/10/23 22UNCLASSIFIED
SDR UG - Sharing Framework
Framework addresses: Waveform definition Waveform implementation Interoperability testing Waveform use
Each step in life cycle needs to address same issues but their impact differs: Software quality and
performance Compliance with open
software architecture Intellectual Property Rights Security
WF Definition WF Implementation WF Use
Interoperability Testing
requirements CONEMP
WF Spec
Fn Ref s/w
IoP ref s/w
radiosWF comps
WF comps
WF comps
WF Spec
iter
atio
n
WF prototype Base WF
s/w
Tgt WF s/w
Tgt WF s/w
Tgt WF s/w
IoP Ref s/w s/w
Base WF s/w
Tgt WF s/w
acce
ptan
ce
Base/ target s/w
test
Nat
’l s
y ac
cred
NA
TO
sy
accr
ed
radios
NationalUse
NATO Use
architecture
requirements
architecture
WF Spec
CO
NE
MP
Tes
t res
ults
feedbackfeedback
04/10/23 23UNCLASSIFIED
SATCOM Standards developed in UHF, SHF, EHF
Frequency bands UHF – Making more Efficient use of Available
Spectrum (DAMA – IW) SHF – Updating existing Standards to be fully
NNEC Compliant, IP capable Comms On The Move: Multiple approaches to
use COTM – SHF EHF – Existing Set of Standards, likely to be
expanded
04/10/23 24UNCLASSIFIED
Summary Operating in a complex environment
which is difficult to predict
Several initiatives underway to improve multinational communications capabilities especially interoperability down to the lower levels Wired Wireless Domain
However whilst technical challenges exist the greater challenges are political and organizational
04/10/23
Questions