Multiply connected survivable network architectures for dynamic, on the move, tactical environments

Abstract

Sustaining the intuitive commander and providing him with a common view of the battlefield, and the ability to make decisions within the enemy's decision cycle and beyond his contact range, requires the ability to digitize the battlefield, and to own the spectrum-enabling forces to reliably communicate at will. Such a communications system needs to provide seamless, timely, robust, reliable, and survivable communications over widely dispersed geographical areas. Support must be provided for a vast complex of sensors as well as supporting command and control for multiple command layers. The current Post Cold War/21st Century Land Combat doctrine emphasizes mobility and C2OTM (Command and Control on the Move), thereby requiring the communication network to dynamically respond to continuously changing network topology. Based upon previously published work in Survivable Communications Networks, the authors discuss multiply connected network architectures and network design approaches which may be instrumented in achieving the rigorous requirements in both forward area tactical and command headquarters scenarios. Specifically, the authors address multiply connected network topologies; dynamic reconfiguration survivability factors and algorithms; and comparative elements of, and techniques for, maximizing performance in a harsh tactical environment. >