Defence spectrum useChanging technologies and applications

CAPT Paul Scott, RAN

Chief Information Officer Group

Department of Defence

Chief Information Officer Group

Overview

Chief Information Officer Group Organisation

Defence spectrum requirements

Defence spectrum sharing

Challenges for Defence

International experience

Conclusions

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ICT Operations Division

Responsible for delivery of the Defence Single Information Environment:

– global end to end capability including the provision of:• satellite communications• electromagnetic spectrum• networks to support military operations

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Defence need for spectrum

Sensors– Threat detection requirements– Increased use in battlespace (e.g.

Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar C-RAM mission)

Communications– Voice, Data and Video (e.g. UAV impact)– Network Centric Warfare

Weapons– Force Protection– Increased use in battlespace (e.g.

Counter-Improvised Explosive Device C-IED)

– Spectrum dominance; at Defence’s time, place and frequency of choice

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Defence White Paper

Electronic Warfare (EW)“8.16 Understanding, controlling and shaping the electromagnetic spectrum has become increasingly important to winning on the modern battlefield. Advanced systems will provide improved protection and advantages for our forces by jamming, suppressing or otherwise denying an adversary the full use of the electromagnetic spectrum.”

– Defence White Paper 2013, page 77

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Air

F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)

– Fifth generation fighter

– Advanced electronic warfare capabilities

– Highly advanced Communication, Navigation and Identification (CNI) suite

– Active, Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar

• enables sophisticated electronic attack capabilities

• allows F-35 to operate without dedicated electronic attack aircraft support

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Air

– Advanced Data Links• high-data-rate, directional comms link• can serve as a communications gateway

for various other platforms (eg providing shared operational picture)

– Sophisticated usage of EM spectrum– Software-Defined Radio (SDR) technology

• reduced hardware requirements• highly configurable

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SeaS-band phased array radar

– AN/SPY-1D(V) – Air Warfare Destroyer

– CEAFAR – ANZAC Class (FFH) Frigate Anti-Ship Missile Defence Upgrade

High power, medium to long range surveillance

Radars provide

– air defence for:

• accompanying ships

• land forces

• infrastructure in coastal areas

– self-protection against missiles and aircraft

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Land

Radios developed under the US Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) program being introduced into the ADF

– Software-defined– Wide tuning range– Can be reconfigured to support different modulation and coding

schemes (waveforms)For example: Harris AN/PRC-117G

– 30–2,000 MHz– Applications

• Narrowband voice• Streaming video eg from UAV• Narrowband satcom• Text messaging

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Military VHF30 88 230 400 520 MHz

Military UHF

520 3600 MHz9001800

21002.3 GHz

850700 2.5 GHz

3.5 GHz

TV

S-Band RadarL-Band Radar

Wi Fi

Radio TV

Telemetry

GPSLink-16

Defence Licensed

Defence shares with other users

Mobile Phones / Wireless Broadband

Broadcasting Other Civilian Uses

Sharing is a reality

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Future developments

Major Defence capability systems designed to be in-service for 30 years or more

– Mid-life upgrades are often difficult and costly– Contrasts with modern commercial

communications technologies which can see generational change every 5 years

Conventional capabilities remain vital and will require ongoing access to spectrum

– HF communications– VHF combat-net radios– Aeronautical navigation systems and radars– X and Ka-band SATCOM

Defence systems will increasingly leverage commercial technologies, but will continue to lead where required by military-specific applications

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International comparisons

Similar challenges faced by militaries worldwideAustralia shares similarities with US and UK; however there are important differences:

– Key bands for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT)• 2.3 GHz• 3.5 GHz

– US, UK militaries have significant access– In Australia, Defence has no special access rights – these bands have been

available for IMT for many yearsCreates challenges for Defence requirements to access spectrum in the 2–4 GHz “sweet spot” for applications such as

– UAV data links– Video– Telemetry

Spectrum sharing innovations are a focus for organisations such the US Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency (DARPA)

– http://www.darpa.mil/spectrumchallenge/– But the leap from proof of concept to in-service in the US, let alone the ADF can be

extremely difficult

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Conclusions

Defence spectrum requirements are growing– New technologies and requirements for data exchange

• eg JSF– Capability upgrades and interoperability requirements driving ADF closer to allies

in terms of spectrum requirements• US in particular

Sharing isn’t easy– Requires

• More detailed data on requirements and use• Additional management overhead

– Defence is working to build its spectrum management capabilities• Increases resilience of ADF capability• May open opportunities for sharing

– Can not rely on technology aloneSpectrum regulatory framework will need to evolve to facilitate greater levels of sharingCooperation necessary to ensure access meets the requirements of all users