ARMY AL&T


Low-Earth orbit (180-2,000 km)


High-Earth and geosynchronous orbit (≥ 35,780 km)


Lunar orbit (384,000 km)


Earth


Mid-Earth orbit (2,000-35,780 km)


LOW, MEDIUM AND HIGH


The Army is looking to increase the bandwidth available for satellite-enabled communications by using low- and medium-Earth orbit satellites as the technology to build them solidifies. Most satellites nowadays are geosynchronous and orbit high above the earth, about one-tenth of the way to the moon. Low-Earth orbit starts just above the Earth’s atmosphere. (NASA illustration by Robert Simmon)


for communication. Te reduced signal-transfer time will signifi- cantly improve the performance of the entire network, especially the application layer. Tese LEO and MEO constellations could also enable us to provide a huge increase in bandwidth compared to current network capability.


Tese solutions could also enable the Army to put more complex network functions and mission support capabilities in safe sanc- tuaries, pulling complexity out of the brigade and putting it in locations where it can be effectively maintained with more conti- nuity. Additionally, the ground antennas will be much smaller, which increases unit deployability and mobility on the battlefield.


Our low- and medium-Earth orbit efforts are a perfect example of how the one-network vision comes into play. As an Army, we will have to look at the network holistically. We can’t continue to have five or six programs delivering their own various ground satellite terminals. Te Army needs to make smart, overarching decisions early on and take advantage of economic quantities


of scale in buying bandwidth on a low- or medium-Earth orbit constellation, supporting the force with one group of constella- tions as the primary and then alternates after that. If the Army makes some good business decisions with whatever constellations they buy, units wouldn’t have to request satellite time for a specific time; it would be available 24/7, just like your cellular network.


Te Army is looking to take advantage of this technology in roughly the 2025-2027 timeframe, with initial prototyping projected for 2023. PM Tactical Network plans to conduct initial lab experiments and demonstrations this summer with new commercial off-the-shelf antennas.


Walker: What lessons have you learned in addressing current Army requirements?


Coile: As our adversaries change, operational concepts have to change, which drives requirement evolution. Te enemy is always going to get a vote, so we have to maintain program agility


https://asc.ar my.mil 71


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