Tactical line-of-sight radio propagation reliability modeling

Abstract

The Army Operations warfighting concept includes a need for reliable tactical communications worldwide. A line-of-sight (LOS) propagation reliability working group, convened by the US Army Communications-Electronics Command, has developed a propagation reliability model that relates the reliability of an LOS link to path length, radio frequency, equipment capability, and geophysical and meteorological variables. The geophysical and meteorological variables are described in terms of a climate factor. The importance of climate on the reliability of communications links has been amply demonstrated by experience in Southwest Asia. The propagation reliability model has been incorporated in a new battlefield automated system, the Joint Tactical Area Communications Systems (Provisional) Network Planning Terminal (NPT). The NPT provides the US Army with new capabilities for network planning and management, frequency management, communications engineering, and electronic warfare threat analysis of LOS tactical communications links for deployment anywhere in the world. >