Flyaway Satcom 2010
Written by Adam Baddeley
SOTECH 2010 Volume: 8 Issue: 5 (July)
Demand for flyaway satcom—terminals that are deployable in one or two transit cases and built up the field in 5-10 minutes—is as strong as ever, giving small groups or individuals access in the field to communication capabilities that just a few years ago would have been limited to ‘tent city’ headquarters.
While physics puts limits on just how small the terminal can go, there has in recent years been something of a ‘bounce’ in the downward trajectory of size weight and power as users realise that to meet certain capabilities a certain aperture size must remain. Demand continues to push toward a modular designs, enabling modems and reflectors to be swapped out in a plug and play manner. However, work is also nearing completion of coding, interference cancellation and integration of baseband technologies that will allow users to arguably go even smaller.
L-3
L-3 GCS’s major effort for SOF is in the SDN Medium program, where it is continuing to deliver its Hawkeye and Cheetah terminals. These systems have continued to be developed throughout the life of the program, said Tony Jannetta, chief technology officer, L-3 GCS.
A recent change is the introduction of a 40 watt Cheetah version as opposed to the original 25 watt version. Jannetta said, “We are offering it as an option; it can be purchased either way and will be shipping the first unit in May. We have also looked at Ka-band on the Cheetah, but haven’t made any decisions on that yet.”
In total, Jannetta said that L-3 GCS has delivered over 5000 flyaway terminals in recent years, and in that time, requirements have evolved and continue to evolve. Until a few years ago, L-3 GCS’s main focus was Kuband satcom, reflecting the military demand for that commercial available frequency, coupled with a desire to further reduce the size and weight of the terminal. When Ku capacity became scarce and users needed to operate where there is lack of Ku coverage, there was new focus on C-band. L-3 consequently introduced the Hawkeye III family, which includes apertures up to 2.4 meters. Change in demand was heralded by the launch of the Ka- and X-band WGS satellite constellation in 2007.
Jannetta said, “The new satellite is so much more powerful; you can do X-band on antenna sizes that were pretty much unheard of five years ago, like our Panther, which is a 15-inch by 20-inch rectangular design.” Jannetta cited another innovation that has taken hold in the past couple of years: advent of DVB-S2, which has meant it is possible to push tens of MBPS downstream and T1/1.544 MBPS upstream. He commented, “For the most part they are happy with 1.5-2 MBPS upstream rates, except for the people who want to do high definition video, which is really becoming a driver for the higher upstream rates where we need to do 6 MBPS or more. We have a 1.2 meter X-band terminal, the Hawkeye III lite, that will support those data rates and we also have the Hawkeye III 1.6, 2.0 and 2.4 meter, which are all flyaway terminals.” However, modularity means that distinctions between various solutions are becoming blurred. Jannetta said, “We are trying to go modular with everything we make, so for example, on the Hawkeye III you have a common pedestal—you can place a 1.6, 2.0 or 2.4 meter antenna on, and then you can buy various band kits. The customer may purchase a Ku system, then need to move to X-band because the government owns those assets. All they would need to do is to buy an X-band kit as opposed to a whole new system. The same is true of modems, although in our neck of the woods it is dominated by iDirect.”
The introduction of a DVB-S2 capability allows communications to either use much less power or increase throughput substantially at the same power. L-3 GCS introduced a DVB-S2 capability on the Panther in 2008. Jannetta said, “SOCOM is switching over to DVB-S2 capable modems. While their networks are not quite there yet, they are planning for it. All of our vendors want a capability and that is a requirement of just about everything we have bid.” Certification processes are an important feature of L-3 GCS activity. The company plans ARSTRAT (Army Strategic Command) certification for all their products. It has already achieved certification on the Panther X-band, and it is being planned on the same class of terminals for Ka-band. Certification is also in process for the Hawkeye III Lite 1.2 meter terminal and the wider Hawkeye III family, with the latter due to begin the process this summer.
In terms of ruggedization, L-3 is taking the specification from the SDN-Medium program and making that the standard. In terms of MIL-STD-810, the sub 1 meter aperture Cheetah and 1.2 meters Hawkeye III Lite, have completed that process. Jannetta said, “We will implement the same standard on all subsequent flyaways.”
KLAS
Klas Telecom’s presence in the military flyaway satcom market began four years ago when they were invited to participate in a run off with several other companies for the Global Rapid Response Information Package (GRRIP) program for the Army’s Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) via the Army Technology Applications Office.
Steven Anspach, vice president of product marketing with Klas Telecom, said, “We were selected as the winner, coming up with the smallest multipurpose, multi-enclave package available, and so the GRRIP was born. It has since been selected for program of record status by the Army’s Council of Colonels in 2009, and is now designated as the Communications Control Set AN/PSC-15 with a national stock number assigned to it. It has really been adopted as the de facto standard for small team communications within the Army’s Intel community.”
The AN/PSC-15 provides access to up to Top Secret networks from anywhere in the world. A fully self-contained system weighing just 28 pounds, it is the perfect choice for that Grab and Go mission to any remote region of the world. The system went through JITC testing in 2009 and the certification process is expected to be completed later this year.
Outlining the AN/PSC-15’s upgrade path, Anspach said, “What we have done is to put the core product through a process of revision and updates as new technologies and capabilities came about.” This has ensured the system remains up-to-date and maintains its cutting edge position. “BGAN is used for the primary reachback pathway because it is the smallest satellite terminal available. Additional communications paths can also be used such as hotel broadband, 3G, 4G and WiFi networks if available. In addition, we have accomplished interoperability testing with various VSAT terminals, to include the new manpack X-band terminal and are now offering both the terminals and recurring VSAT services to our customers,” Anspach added.
While the AN/PSC-15 consists of a number of COTS items from other manufacturers, the Klas ‘smarts’ resides on the secure side of the kit and with the integrated power modules. Approximately 80 percent of the intelligence inside the case belongs directly to Klas. The Klas Router was designed and is manufactured by Klas, and has already gone through several revisions to improve not only its performance, but also reduce the size, weight and power consumption. Having complete ownership of this key component allows Klas to make changes as mission or technology dictates, as opposed to when industry decides. In addition to standard routing and switching functionaily, SCPS-based acceleration is also integrated onto the router as part of its normal configuration. The Klas designed and manufactured power boards are capable of operating from wide ranging AC or DC and provide conditioned power to all internal components as well as the integrated battery.
Beyond the AN/PSC-15, Klas has developed additional products to include the KP2200, KP2150, WANdroid and most recently the KP2500. The KP2200 was an offshoot of the AN/PSC-15, designed at the request of the Defense Intelligence Agency, who already operated some of the GRRIPs but were looking for a system that was a little more discreet. Anspach said, “They did not want to go into an area where they had deployed, looking like a U.S. government entity with a communication kit, so they asked us for something that looked like a typical commercial product.”
One distinct difference between the KP2200 and the GRRIP is that the GRRIP is capable of operating with either L-3’s Talon card or Harris’ Sec- Net 54 while the KP2200 is only capable of operating with the SecNet 54 internally. Both the GRRIP and KP2200 have compartments that house the encryption device so it is not external to the case. When properly configured in the systems, the encryption devices are not visible. All of Klas’ systems are compatible with any HAIPE device, but anything other than the TALON or SecNet 54 will need to be connected externally.
While the GRRIP and KP2200 are designed for small teams of three to five personnel, the KP2500 and soon to be released KP3500 are designed for the medium-sized team in the 5-15 user range, and they are designed to be deployed with the type of team or user that would normally carry either a smallor medium-sized VSAT terminal.
Anspach explained that, “The 2500 was only released over the last couple of months, but we have already sold approximately 250 and we understand there are more orders to come.”
For the future, Klas’ target is to broaden the offering as part of an end-toend solution. “What we are looking to do is to take the systems and technology we have developed and combine them with products and services from other manufacturers to provide a more complete and capable end-to-end solution, specifically focusing on VSAT communications and enhanced voice services. We are looking to the end of 2010 for the formal launch of these enhanced offerings.” Klas is participating with their industrial partners at this year’s CECOM’s Joint Users Interoperability Communications Exercise or JUICE, doing real world test bedding of systems and solutions.
HUGHES
Hughes has roughly 4,500 flyaways and deployable terminals today, more than any other in the world, including the DoD, in a range of contracts including special operations forces, with Hughes also supplying the NorthCom with flyaway elements of their emergency communications and agencies such as FEMA, and other first responders at state and federal level.
Hughes is active in several different aspects in the flyaway area, according to Dan Losada, a senior director of the Defense and Intelligence Division at Hughes, responsible for Department of Defense programs.
“We have integrated our satellite solution and act as a prime systems integrator in certain contracts, offering multiple flyaway solutions based on what the customer needs. We don’t stamp the metal that goes on the reflector or make the block upconverters that convert the signal. What we do make is the hub and networking equipment, and we design and manufacture the IP-based satellite routers that are embedded into the flyaways.
“Another thing that sets us apart is that we are a service provider in addition to providing the hardware. A flyaway terminal is as useful as a brick if it isn’t part of a network. We provide the backend network services for U.S. forces, either through Inmarsat or Thuraya dedicated networks or through our Fixed Satellite System (FSS) networks using our HX System or Spaceway solutions, which are close to what the USSOCOM SDN-Light program is trying to deploy, for example.
“Hughes is the only company who can offer every solution as a prime contractor. We offer the ground networking equipment, we make the satellite modem that goes inside the flyaway kit, and we also operate as integrators to offer the whole end-to-end solution.”
Losada sees a number of opportunities in the Army’s Warfighter Information Network- Tactical program. “There is a series of issues with it as it migrates into Increment 3, where you have to add in a scalability and network management function and dynamic routing at the IP level. Right now they are using only Layer 2 satellite modems, so as you start getting to IP-based, Layer 3 satellite routers, the WIN-T program migrates into a more scalable deployable solution, which is where Hughes comes in, because we offer off-theshelf solutions. We continue to work with the program office. We also have technology that allows operation with very small aperture terminals which we could us to enable the Soldier Network Extension in a low cost solution.”
THE FUTURE
Losada sees a number of changes in flyaway satcom technologies in the near future, in the areas of coding such as FEC and multiple access scheme, interference cancellation, shrinking of size, integrating baseband equipment to the satellite router and plug and play operation of the flyaways with different technology providers.
Hughes was the developer of and provider of licences for the coding technology on DVB-S2. New coding technology will, in Losada’s view, also be used to enable terminals to further shrink in size. “The applications we see are not only shrinking the size by a factor of four, but also allowing for really low power type of applications. For example, most flyaways operate at 8 watts in transmit power, but with the 6db of improvement Hughes will offer, you would be able to operate the same link at 1 watt or less. The combination of coding technology and interference cancellation work hand-in-hand to give you this advantage.”
Such a Hughes waveform was tested over the air in June, and Losada expects to begin deployment next year, which will enable different commands to start specifying smaller form factors.
Losada anticipates the replacement of the transit cases that today carry additional equipment that accompanies many flyaway terminals with satellite routers that contain full IP routers supporting dynamic routing protocols (such as OSPF), FIPS 140-2 compliant crypto-gear and WAN optimization technology. Hughes is working on embedding a lot of those functions onto the satellite modem or router. Losada said, “We have an off-the-shelf feature called enhanced signaling security, which satisfies the Transec requirement, so you have transmission security in the same box. This means you don’t have to have a separate black side router in the transit case. We embed WAN optimization in the satellite router so all the black side can be accelerated and optimized.
“We also are bringing in dynamic routing so that we will carry the dynamic routing protocols natively. Putting all those features into a single board that goes inside the flyaway kit essentially saves 10-20 pounds of weight, or about 150 watts or more of power and three fewer rack units of equipment. The user will be able to deploy with just a comsec box and platforms, and they will be done. That is big integration work that should be very efficient. I also see a lot of work being done to standardise the interfaces between the satellite modem or router and the flyaway kit. We are all trying to work towards a standard API so that as a modem is moved from a General Dynamics terminal to an L-3 terminal to TCS, the interface to each one is essentially plug and play. That enables the user communications to specify any satellite router that they want and essentially connect the two together and they are good to go.”
ROCKWELL COLLINS
Rockwell Collins boosted their satcom capabilities in the past year with the acquisition of well known satcom company DataPath and its subsidiary, Swe-Dish, giving them capabilities across Ka-, Ku-, X-, and C-band satcom in the areas of satcom on-themove, briefcase and suitcase-size terminals, Flyaway and drive-away systems and towable SATCOM trailers.
Chris Hazeel, director of satcom systems for Rockwell Collins said, “We are very proud that the DataPath and Swe-Dish products and technologies are now a part of Rockwell Collins, and we are leveraging their capabilities with those of Rockwell Collins to produce solutions which are the best in class for our customers. Rockwell Collins has a long history in delivering both protected and non-protected SATCOM to the DoD, and we leverage the best of our hardware and software technologies to deliver complete solutions to a wide range of customers in the military and government.”
The development path of technology being pursued is following an expected path. Hazeel said, “We are improving our products in response to customer demands for smaller, lighter, easy to operate equipment with fast acquisition times, high data throughput and low cost. Customers also want multiple band reconfigurable solutions. We have multiband flyaways available today and are extending that capability to most of our satcom terminals, from ultra-portable to fixed-site earth stations.”
One example of Rockwell Collins response to introducing solutions with decreased size, weight and power (SWaP)—for example, a briefcase-size product with T1 speed connectivity, named miSAT, which is already deployed with Special Operations Forces. Hazeel explained, “It can be stowed in the overhead of an airplane, and can be put on the air by one person in less than five minutes.
“In addition, customers want flexibility. Swe-dish was the first to introduce modularity to the marketplace, Hazeel continued. We offer CommuniCase Technology that allows our portable flyaway terminals to interchange field-swappable components, including modems and transceivers—even altering a flyaway terminal into a drive-away terminal very quickly.”
Identifying discriminators in the market, Hazeel added, “Well certainly our reduced SWaP solutions such as miSAT and our modular design CommuniCase technology that allows for rapid field changing of modules are important options for the special operations community. We also excel in providing turn-key integrated solutions and in addition, we can wrap our solutions with a comprehensive set of services including cybersecurity solutions, a 24 by 7 network operations center for troubleshooting and support and onsite field support engineers. Our goal is to be a leading provider of manportable and transportable SATCOM systems and Rockwell Collins has the engineering depth, the technology experience and the product roadmap to make that happen.” ♦