No Sats, No Problem For 'Future Combat'

Army: No Sats, No Problem For 'Future Combat'

By Nathan Hodge
October 23, 2008 3:44:00 PM
Categories: FCS Watch
Courtesy Of Wired Blog Network

Yesterday I posted a few thoughts on what the collapse of the Transformational Satellite program would mean for the Army's gajillion-dollar modernization project, Future Combat Systems. The Army's vision hinges on the ability to move shedloads of data at light speed. The reasoning is simple: Information superiority -- seeing the enemy first -- means that future Army troops won't have to hunker down under tons of heavy armor.

That's where TSAT comes in: The laser-linked satellites are supposed to provide secure, high-bandwidth satellite communications for future forces. Problem is, the whole enterprise is in major trouble. It now looks like the new constellation won't be in orbit until at least 2020, long after the first FCS units are in the field.

Not a problem, responds the Army. Its wireless, battlefield network program, Warfighter Information Network-Tactical, and its digital radio project, the Joint Tactical Radio System, will fill the gaps, the service swears. The FCS program office sent us a fact sheet that is supposed to assuage these concerns.

Q: Can FCS live up to its potential if TSAT is delayed?

A: Satellite communications is just one layer of the overall communications network that will be employed by FCS. The FCS communication network is composed of several communication systems, such as Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) and Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T). FCS will leverage all available resources to provide a robust, survivable, scalable and reliable heterogeneous communications network that seamlessly integrates ground, near-ground, airborne and space-borne assets for constant connectivity and layered redundancy. While TSAT is not formally a part of the FCS program, the program is being designed to be able to interface with TSAT when it becomes available. FCS does not require TSAT for initial fielding, however. FCS can employ current satellite assets until TSAT comes on line, bringing increased bandwidth capabilities for the Warfighter.

Q: What will happen to FCS network if TSAT is delayed?

Delaying TSAT will have minimal impact on the FCS SATCOM strategy for the Network. As the TSAT constellation matures, the FCS baseline that uses WIN-T Ku/Ka-band (MILSATCOM Wideband and Commercial SATCOM) will migrate to a tri-band capability to support TSAT. TSAT will enhance the flexibility, performance, and robustness for the warfighter by increasing the on the move data rates and providing a low probability of interception/low probability of detection/anti-jam capability, however, it's currently not a formal part of the FCS baseline and there are no dependencies.

To translate the Pentagonese: We'll get by. Paul Mehney of the FCS program office writes: "As you can see, we are not as reliant on TSAT as some have claimed. Yes, it will allow FCS brigades to share large amounts of information (increases our bandwidth) but FCS will also rely heavily on JTRS and WIN-T for sensor data flow and network capability."

Fair enough. But I also have to point out that both JTRS and WIN-T have had serious developmental problems. JTRS (pronounced "jitters"), a massive, multibillion-dollar effort to develop an array of next-generation voice and data radios, has been plagued by delays, restructuring and cost overruns; WIN-T, which will enable digital command posts, busted its budget (a so-called "Nunn-McCurdy breach") in late 2006. Back to you, Army?

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