Tactical Data Networks Enterprise

Abstract

The Tactical Data Networks Enterprise (TDNE) develops, enhances and fields Tactical Data Links (TDL) including internet protocol (IP) networks, advanced waveforms, radios, network management tools, and associated hardware and software that comprise the Joint Aerial Layer Network (JALN). This will be accomplished by upgrading currently fielded communications and TDL systems and IP networks. The upgrades will be effected by the development and fielding of more advanced systems in support of the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS). ABMS is a family of systems which provides capabilities consisting of air, land, and maritime surveillance, tactical communications and networking, integrated with battle management command and control in support of Joint forces. ABMS is an integral component to transition to the Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) concept at the tactical level of warfare. TDNE supports the development, fielding and training of aerial layer networking capabilities across multiple force projection missions including air superiority, ground precision attack, command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and personal recovery while integrating capabilities with space operations. TDNE also addresses warfighter urgent demands through the establishment of Quick Reaction Capabilities (QRC) and enterprise activities. TDNE executes quick reaction response capability requests by the warfighter and support activities (including ramp-up) associated with the JALN enterprise. This program ensures the continued enhanced interoperability of Air Force and joint/coalition/NATO assets through efforts such as early systems engineering for program requirements analysis and architectural design development/coordination of all TDN standards and management capabilities, configuration management, platform/system interoperability assessments, development of government reference architectures, interoperability certification testing, and flight testing. The aerial layer extends to interfacing with space communication assets (both military and commercial). An example of this interface work includes the use of the Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW) designed to mitigate the effects of advanced jamming in Anti-Access/Area Denial environments.). PTW provides worldwide, beyond line of sight, Anti-Jam (AJ), Low Probability of Intercept communications, via military and commercial satellite systems for tactical users in all services. It includes terminal certification efforts (Information Assurance (IA), NSA and MIL-STD). PTW development activities may include technical and acquisition-related studies, analysis, early systems engineering and risk reduction activities, addressing all subsystems to support both current program planning/execution and future AF program planning. This effort also funds PTW modem development and aperture development on suitable platforms. Satellite communication efforts includes all necessary system components to leverage commercially available space assets such as antennas modems, and network management support systems. TDL System Integration will provide for the study (acquisitions current and proposed), analysis, enhancement, development, integration, demonstration, test, and evaluation of TDLs as a subset of the broader aerial layer networks. TDLs are used in both peace time and combat environments to exchange information such as character-oriented and fixed-formatted messages, data, radar tracks, target information, platform status, imagery, free-text messaging and command assignments. TDLs provide interoperability, local and global connectivity, and situational awareness to the user when training or fighting under rapidly changing operational conditions. TDLs increase mission effectiveness by providing enhanced air domain situational awareness, positive combat identification of aircraft in the network, fusion/correlation of on- and off-board sensor data, digital sharing of machine-to-machine target and threat information, thereby, enabling time critical targeting and other mission assignment tasking. TDLs are used by all service theater command and control (C2) elements, weapons platforms, and sensors. TDLs include, but are not limited to: Link 16, Link 11, Link 22, Situational Awareness Data Link (SADL), Variable Message Format (VMF), , and other Advanced TDL Link technologies, such as Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT), Common Data Link (CDL), Intra-Flight Data Link (IFDL) and Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) . SATURN (Second-Generation Anti-Jam Tactical UHF Radio for NATO) is the next generation UHF line-of-sight link and is required to support a resilient voice and data capability for operations in a contested environment. A DoD CIO mandate requires transition from the HQII waveform to the SATURN waveform as the standard for UHF line of sight air-to-air and air-to-ground communications interoperability no later than Dec 31, 2023. Agile Communications includes the capability to share tactically significant information within/to/from highly contested environments in support of the Air Superiority 2030 Flight Plan. Agile Communication efforts provide processes and coordination for enterprise communication development activities. High Capacity Backbone (HCB), a subset of the overall ABMS plan, will provide the warfighter with a robust communication infrastructure enhancing C2 capabilities. HCB connects users operating within disadvantaged conditions to space and terrestrial communications utilizing Deployed Ground Entry Points (DGEP) and aerial nodes. Tactical Data Link Planning, Analysis and Planning (TDL PAM) provides a tool to monitor, troubleshoot and repair any issues with Link 16 network. Link 16 Enhancements will develop and field an advanced signal processing capability on Airborne platforms to address threats in the contested and highly contested environments. To address future Advanced Tactical Datalinks, development of a Software Programmable OMS compliant (SPOC) radio terminal prototype is being built and tested. SPOC will provide a next generation radio set capable of hosting a variety of advanced tactical datalinks which aligns with the ABMS plan, and allows for more than one waveform operating simultaneously resulting in improved connectivity and situational awareness for the warfighter. Communication gateways are necessary to support systems of systems integration and the delivery of information exchanges across disparate physical and logical network pathways. Gateway functions include enabling interoperability between data formats, protocols, and communication mediums. Additionally, gateway functions extend the connectivity range, consolidate data from multiple networks into high capacity links for transmission to key C2ISR nodes, route information between disadvantaged users, and fuse/correlate data from multiple sources to improve accuracy. Gateway functions also provide application hosting, shared data storage, on-demand information access, smart data forwarding, and system monitoring and network management. Family of Gateways provides for the study (acquisitions current and proposed), analysis, enhancements, development, integration, costing, demonstration, test, and evaluation efforts related to future TDL communications development that will allow joint combat forces to exchange information quickly and accurately by bridging discrete airborne, terrestrial, maritime, and space-based C4ISR networks producing operational effects not possible within individual networks. Additionally, Family of Gateways will support enhancements of existing TDL performance, through upgrades and engineering analysis of system designs. Efforts in this project include waveform, ground, and rapid acquisition activities supporting Air Force requirements for communication bridging across multiple platforms, sources and communication domains. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver Tactical Data Network system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605831F. In FY20 $0.347M expended and in FY21 $0.494M is estimated for civilian pay expenses in this program element. This program is in Budget Activity 5, System Development and Demonstration (SDD) because it has passed Milestone B approval and is conducting engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full rate production.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2022
• Source ID: 0604281F_5_3600_PB_2022
• Change Summary Explanation: FY 20: Decrease 6.940M FY 20 Small Business Innovation Research (SIBR) FY 21: Decrease of 10.721M based on Congressional Mark.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• C4I
• Cyber
• Engineered Resilient Systems
• Space
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Air Force
• Area Denial
• Combat Forces
• Command And Control
• Command And Control Systems
• Communication Networks
• Configuration Management
• Control Systems
• Data Links
• Information Exchange
• Information Systems
• Network Protocols
• Software Prototyping
• Systems Engineering
• Test And Evaluation
• Test Facilities
• Warfare

Fields of Study

• Computer science

Readers

• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.
• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Space