The Joint Tactical Radio System: Lessons Learned and the Way Forward

Abstract

In 1997 the Department of Defense (DoD) launched the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS; pronounced jitters ), a transformational communications network that will permit warfighters and support personnel to seamlessly transmit voice, picture, and video via a high-capacity wireless network. Since the program s inception, however, DoD officials have consistently overestimated the ease with which various components of JTRS could be developed and implemented. This has resulted in a program that has experienced delays, unforeseen technical hurdles, and major cost overruns. JTRS is a software-defined radio (SDR), although it is more like a computer than a traditional radio. Functions that are traditionally built into a radio s hardware are, instead, implemented through software. As a result, with the proper software, JTRS can emulate a variety of different physical radios, but also has the ability to download data and imagery. An open systems framework known as the Software Communications Architecture (SCA) is key to the system s interoperability; it tells designers how elements of hardware and software are to operate in harmony (Brown, Sticklan, & Babich, 2005, p. 1) thus enabling users of different JTRS variants (airborne, maritime, ground, fixed, etc.) to load and run the same software applications. Initially, a Joint Program Office (JPO) was established and tasked with development of the SCA; development of the JTRS radios themselves was divided into five clusters, each of which was headed by one of the military services. For instance, the Air Force was tasked with developing JTRS for Air Force and Navy fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, while the Army oversaw development of handheld, man-portable, and other small JTRS variants. The perceived simplicity behind the open architecture concept guided DoD officials in establishing this initial, decentralized management structure and acquisition strategy.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2012
Accession Number
ADA623331

Entities

People

  • Jacques Gansler
  • John Rigilano
  • William Lucyshyn

Organizations

  • University of Maryland

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • Counter WMD
  • Cyber
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Computer Programming
  • Computers
  • Information Systems
  • Lessons Learned
  • Mobile Phones
  • National Security
  • Network Science
  • Operating Systems
  • Organizational Structure
  • Radio Communications
  • Radio Equipment
  • Software Defined Radio
  • Software-Defined Radio Waveforms
  • Tactical Radios
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Computer Networking
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.