MULTIPLE PATHS LEAD TO NETWORK RESILIENCY
Earth orbit (MEO) and advanced GEO satellite communications (SATCOM).
Being able to simultaneously use all network transport options will significantly enhance units’ primary, alternate, contingency and emergency communications plans, enabling Soldiers to use the best available transport option at any given time, and having plenty of backups to be prepared for every potential operational scenario, location or attack. Bandwidth can also be aggregated and optimized across multi-orbit capabilities to ensure network connections in denied, disrupted, intermittent and low band- width network environments.
At the end of the day, the Soldier will not have to worry about which signal path he or she is taking, it will be automatic. Tey can be more confident that essential data and communications are making it to the point of need and providing commanders the information they need to defensively react to threats and offensively become one.
MANY BECOME ONE Currently, the Army is forced to use separate systems to leverage different frequencies and satellite constellations in different orbits. However, the Next Generation Tactical Terminal (NGTT) will combine all these capabilities into one system, significantly reduc- ing logistical size, weight and power burden, as well as cognitive burden, so Soldiers can focus on the fight. NGTT will simul- taneously leverage current and future HT/LL LEO, MEO and GEO constellations and services, as well as multiple frequency bands, and high-capacity terrestrial capabilities—with a single terminal, at-the-halt, at-the-quick-halt or on-the-move—to deliver the real-time data that commanders need to make rapid informed decisions. If one link or pathway goes down, Soldiers won't have to switch frequency bands or change out any hard- ware; the switch to different transport options is automatic and seamless to the user.
Project Manager Tactical Network (PM TN), assigned to the Program Executive Office for Command, Control and Commu- nications-Tactical (PEO C3T), manages and fields the Army’s tactical network transport systems. To date, the PM TN portfo- lio includes approximately 12,000 on-the-move and at-the-halt satellite terminals in the field globally, supporting units from home station to harsh dispersed operational environments at the edge of the battlefield. Once NGTT transitions from the science and technology community to PM TN, the system will become part of the PM TN’s SATCOM Family of Terminals, an inno- vative acquisition approach that reduces the variety of different
60 Army AL&T Magazine Fall 2024
terminals in the PM TN’s portfolio, providing fewer but more versatile terminal variants in standard sizes. Te Family of Termi- nals approach combats the sheer volume and diversity of the PM TN’s vast portfolio, helping to overcome challenges from every angle—including cost, complexity, logistics, sustainment and the never-ending need for continual network modernization and integration to retain advantage over the enemy. (See “SATCOM Streamline” in the Spring 2023 issue of Army AL&T.)
Te Army’s science and technology community—specifically the Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center, an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, U.S. Army Futures Command—has been developing the on-the-move NGTT solution. On the current timeline, the Army expects the initial single-band NGTT solution to transition from science and technology to PM TN in 2025 and a multi- band NGTT solution to transition in 2027. NGTT’s ability to operate on-the-move in contested and congested environments will significantly enhance tactical network satellite communi- cations and network resiliency, increasing the survivability and lethality of U.S. forces.
PM TN and the C5ISR Center are also collaborating with the U.S. Navy to share information, incorporate lessons learned and ensure unity of effort across DOD. Te Navy is using the same NGTT technology in its equivalent effort, known as the Satellite Terminal (transportable) Non-Geostationary, or STtNG, which provides a multiband, multi-orbit SATCOM capability to ships.
MULTIPLE MEANS TO RESILIENCY NGTT is just one of several means the Army is using to reach its large-scale combat operations network goals. For instance, the Multi-Orbit Modem (MOM)—a multiband, multi-orbit, multi-constellation capable modem—will be able to “talk” to numerous multi-orbit military and commercial satellites constel- lations simultaneously. MOM supports a Modular Open Systems Approach design, enabling plug-and-play configurations to tailor capabilities to the needs of each echelon. On the current timeline, the Army expects to transition MOM from science and technol- ogy to PM TN in fiscal year 2027.
To support large-scale combat operations from a business tactic, the Army is also exploring a lease-versus-buy model—known as SATCOM as a managed service, or SaaMS—for acquiring and delivering scalable commercial satellite communications. PM TN manages this effort for the Army and will wrap up a global SaaMS pilot at the end of fiscal year 2024 informing
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120
