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Software applications for waveform generation and processing replace older hardware intensive systems
r mhe Defense Department's joint tactical radio initiative is aimed at developing a programmable, modular communications system that fulfills the requirements of all the U.S. armed services. The potential also exists for use of this communications technology approach by federal civil agencies and commercial businesses. Consolidation of numerous military radio activities into a single program will expedite progress and save billions of dollars in research, development, acquisition, logistics and training costs over the next several years, government officials claim.
The joint imperatives of Defense Department acquisition reform policy and the double-time march of commercial technology already are nudging the armed services to develop a common architecture for next-generation tactical radios. Defense officials note that, as cooperation and collaboration continue in command and control system acquisition, the new joint tactical radio program will enable them to combine a single, common system backplane with service-unique applications.
The common backplane and the subsystems for a baseline joint tactical radio system architecture are likely to be highly compatible for most, if not all, service applications. The radio system then would be tailored to meet service-unique configuraticns through a plug-and-play design, using modules that customize the system for individual needs. Those directly involved expect the joint tactical radio approach, as it evolves from a conceptual architecture to highly common systems, to pick up fast-moving new communications capabilities developed in the commercial marketplace.
The command, control, communications, computers and intelligence, or C4I, domain is being transformed by the insertion of commercially developed, highly interoperable processors and other computing components and subsystems, along with complete desktop systems and workstations. The joint tactical radio's operational requirements stipulate that the system must extend the requirements of the services for common and interoperable elements into the tactical communications arena. Part of this would involve a digital, software-reprogrammable, multiband and multimode system capable of providing voice, data and video communications.
The requirements for the new joint radio program also encompass flexibility and the multidimensional capabilities to meet the emerging threat of information warfare. Because potentially hostile nations have acquired advanced electronic warfare systems, the program requirements also include new electronic warfare system capabilities that could jam and degrade even the most sophisticated...