Protocol enhancements for SATCOM DAMA military standards

Abstract

Military communication networks in the near future are expected to be integrated and dynamic. In order to deal with dynamic user needs, demand-assigned multiple access (DAMA) techniques are being developed and standardized for military satellite communication (SATCOM) networks. In the ultrahigh frequency (UHF) band, two military standards have been released. However, a technical working group (TWG) within the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) has been formed to address some of the anticipated shortcomings of networks operating per these standards. In the superhigh frequency (SHF) band, although not yet released, two documents representing a military standard exist in final draft form. In the extremely high frequency (EHF) band, several organizations are developing protocols for DAMA operation that will likely lead to a future military standard. This study proposes and evaluates the improvements resulting from several protocol enhancements, primarily for UHF DAMA. The study gives consideration to the impact on operation of existing equipment in its assessment of various protocol enhancements. The proposed protocol enhancements address the following needs: short delay (call setup and voice/data throughput) connections, fast mode changes between the two standardized UHF DAMA modes, reduction of overhead when dynamic DAMA protocols are supporting relatively static services, and increased capability to handle network dynamics for standardized protocols having insufficient orderwire capacity. This study considered the need for multiple-hop global connections having short throughput delays. Because of the general trend to integrate previously isolated communication systems, the importance of addressing multiple-hop within a single system (e.g., UHF SATCOM) is diminishing and therefore was not further investigated. This study also considered the need for standardized high-rate DAMA services on SHF channels; however, the existing draft military standards were found to be adequate in this area. In other areas, the study proposes and describes enhancements that offer significant improvements in network capability with minimal impacts on the operation of existing equipment.