Projected Troposcatter use in the Integrated Theater Signal Battalion
The Signal Corps at the echelon-above-corps stands at the beginning of a major change in force structure. That change in force structure is called the ITSB. The concept was first tested in the 7th Signal Brigade with the cross-leveling and consolidation of equipment between the three separate numbered companies of the 72nd Signal Battalion and the lettered companies of 44th Signal Battalion. The resulting ITSB structure had three line companies each including switching, line-of-sight, tactical satellite, light troposcatter, cable and data equipment. Within the companies of the 72nd Signal Battalion exist, deployable light, medium, and heavy communications packages organized to support any type of assigned signal mission.
The ITSB concept gave the company commander everything needed to provide services at the EAC level to include beyond line-of-sight assets. The more modular ITSB signal company can stand alone in customer support capabilities.
The ITSB concept reorganizes existing EAC signal equipment across the Active (Compo 1), National Guard (Compo 2), and Reserve (Compo 3) components. For the Compo 2 and Compo 3 units, ITSB provides a cascade of both TASCAT (AN/TSC-93Cs and AN/ TSC-85C) and troposcatter assets (AN/TRC-170 IV2 and 3]) where none may have been available previously. The cascade of satellite equipment to Compo 2 and 3 units will likely match up with the fielding of "Phoenix" TACSAT systems to Compo 1. Since troposcatter equipment is found primarily in the National Guard and Reserve, it is likely some active component units will cross-level these assets. There are currently three projected ITSB models for TROPO assets: light, heavy and mixed. Focusing on troposcatter equipment specifically, the light battalion will only have AN/TRC-170(V)3s, the heavy battalion will have only AN/TRC-170(V)2s, while the mixed battalion will have some light and some heavy systems.
Under the current ITSB concept put forward, the active component has four light, three heavy and two mixed battalions. The National Guard and Reserve appears to have a similar mix. The present ITSB model aims to use troposcatter for long-haul switch-to-switch links. In the era of readily available TACSAT equipment and increasing satellite bandwidth, it may make sense to plan on using troposcatter systems to provide "back-up" or "alternate" links.
It is important to consider the differences between light and heavy troposcatter systems when doing so. Light troposcatter systems are capable of providing up to a two-megabyte per second link with a planning range of 100 miles. Heavy troposcatter systems can provide up to a four-megabyte per second link with a planning range of 150 miles. Set up times between the two system types are vastly different; it takes one-two hours for light versus four-five for heavy.
This tactical/strategic distinction should be considered when making the final decisions on the execution of the ITSB concept. Making some battalions strictly light TROPO will lock them into more tactical missions, whereas battalions with only heavy TROPO will be restricted to more strategic/sustainment base operations. Both light and heavy troposcatter systems have advantages and disadvantages in data rates, planning range, setup times and transportation requirements. The present ITSB concept should be modified such that all battalions have a mix of heavy and light troposcatter systems. This gives the commander the capability to support both tactical and strategic mission in the same package. Such flexibility will be critical as [UE.sub.x] and [UE.sub.y] support requirements are better defined. Additionally, a mix of light and heavy troposcatter systems can be used to support variable data rates up to four-megabytes per second, theater unique scenarios, and joint force interfaces (i.e. troposcatter links between the Army, Marines and Air Force).
Finally, system specialization should be integrated into the ITSB concept. Today's 25Q soldier must be proficient on more than ten tactical and commercial radio systems to include; the TRC-190s, TRC-170s, TSSR TSSR Total System Support Responsibility
TSSR Tropo/Satellite Support Radio
TSSR Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
TSSR Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic (Tajikistan)
TSSR tropospheric scatter (TROPO) and high-capacity line-of-sight. Each radio system requires the operator have a certain level of specialization to be used efficiently.
Although a 25Q may be expected to know the basics of each radio system in their MOS (1) (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) See MOSFET.
(2) (Mean Opinion Score) The quality of a digitized voice line. It is a subjective measurement that is derived entirely by people listening to the calls and scoring the results from , not allowing them to spend an extended amount of time on a single system may be detrimental to signal operations. ITSB commanders should consider equipment specialization as another key to mission success and allow 25Q soldiers when assigned to a system to stay with it at least six months or more to develop the appropriate level of proficiency.
Defining a strict team/system specialization concept for all radio systems in the 25Q military occupational specialty would enhance unit installation, operation and maintenance capabilities.
Future Troposcatter upgrades/usage
Ultimately, both light and heavy troposcatter systems will see use in Army longhaul communications into the near future. Technological upgrades should be considered to ensure these systems are viable in the ever-expanding Global Information Grid.
Army troposcatter systems have proven useful in both Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Both the light and heavy variants provide the communications planner with the means of extending a relatively high data rate link without using critically short satellite resources. Although the upcoming launch of the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite will provide the warfighter with much needed bandwidth, current user requirement still outstrips this new capability.
Unfortunately, both light and heavy TROPO are still outfitted with older Digital Group Multiplexing/ Tri-Tac equipment. In order to extend the lifespan and usefulness of the TRC-170, several actions should be considered.
Troposcatter Radio Systems require increased bandwidth above the 4.096 Mb/s level.
Present bandwidth processing capabilities of the AN/TRC-170 severely limits required services of OIF customers in theater. An increased bandwidth will improved capabilities of providing total communication services to the warfighter and would allow greater use of the system. Additionally, an increase in bandwidth would improve the efficiency of long haul Long distance. Long haul implies traversing a state or a country. Contrast with short haul. and tactical transmission while helping communications requirements in the joint operation environment.
Joint tactical operations require high speed, multimedia communications and information flow to garrisoned forces and to in-transit and deployed mobile forces. Many individual services required by the warfighter today, (e.g., Predator, JWICS JWICS Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System , VTC VTC - video teleconferencing , AN/TYQ-127) have data file sizes ranging from hundreds of kilobits to several megabits per second (unit) megabits per second - (Mbps, Mb/s) Millions of bits per second. A unit of data rate. 1 Mb/s = 1,000,000 bits per second (not 1,048,576).
E.g. Ethernet can carry 10 Mbps. , which require significant bandwidth to transmit. The majority of these high profile and critical circuits require at least 24 MB of bandwidth to operate these circuits. The existing AN/TRC-170 modem is not compatible with these increased bandwidth requirements Bandwidth requirements (communications)
The channel bandwidths needed to transmit various types of signals, using various processing schemes. Every signal observed in practice can be expressed as a sum (discrete or over a frequency continuum) of sinusoidal due to its limited bandwidth capacity of 2MB. The acquisition of Defense Satellite Communications System Geosynchronous military communications satellites that provide high data rate communications for military forces, diplomatic corps, and the White House. The Defense Satellite Communications System provides long-haul super-high frequency 7/8 gigahertz voice and high data rate satellite links (i.e. X-band) are a scarce commodity and the funding for commercially leased satellite links (Ku-Band) can be costly. They either cannot support, or would have difficulty providing high-bandwidth services without significantly limiting or curtailing other critical two-way voice/data network services to the warfighter. Most existing high bandwidth systems operate in point-to-point configuration and at fixed locations systems using large antennas. The Conduct of the Persian Gulf War--The Final Report to Congress, April 1992, highlighted the limited ability of current military and civilian satellite communication systems to provide responsive, high-capacity communications to deployed, mobile tactical units.
A high capacity AN/TRC-170 capability is needed to provide timely dissemination of information products, such as imagery, intelligence information, missile warning, weather, record message traffic, joint and service unique news, education, training, video, Morale, Welfare and Recreation Morale, Welfare and Recreation is a network of support and leisure services designed for use by soldiers (active, Reserve, and Guard), their families, civilian employees, military retirees and other eligible participants. programming, and/or other desired information services See Information Systems. within a short amount of time. The DoD's support in the acquisition and implementation of an upgraded AN/TRC-170 modem would provide worldwide, high capacity, full duplex transmission of a variety of high-speed data updates, high quality imagery and other information products to supported forces.
The AN/TRC-170 should support existing and proposed information dissemination requirements appropriate for wideband transmission. The service should provide expeditious ex·pe·di·tious
adj.
Acting or done with speed and efficiency. See Synonyms at fast1.
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ex delivery of selected data to deployed tactical forces and commanders. The AN/ TRC-170 should support routine operations, training and military exercises, special activities, crises and the transition to and conduct of opposed operations short of nuclear war. The need for high capacity data flow results from growing emphasis on providing joint operational commanders and tactical units with tailored products and services required for successful mission accomplishment. There is an immediate need for an upgraded AN/ TRC-170 modern to provide this high capacity information flow to warfighters. Upgrading the AN/ TRC-170 has the potential to significantly overcome existing capacity limitations of current and planned communications systems. Upgrade both light and heavy TROPO systems with the latest multiplexing equipment such as FCC-100s and Promina switches. The TRC-170002 has more space for additional or upgraded multiplexing gear than the TRC-170(V)3. As miniaturization has shown, just about any free space in a communications shelter can be adapted to meet a specific need. Similar to the "Charlie Model" upgrades for the AN/TSC-93 and AN/TSC-85 TACSAT systems, the latest commercially available upgrades for TROPO modems, synthesizers, up/ down converters, transmitters, receivers and HPAs should be included in any upgrades.
Improving the two variants of troposcatter systems in this manner would extend their service life and provide access to a pool of commercially available parts. Modems and multiplexers that support real-time data compression should also be considered in troposcatter system upgrades.
Even as upgrades are considered, actual usage of troposcatter systems should be re-evaluated. Troposcatter links should continue to be used for long-haul switch-to-switch connectivity where TACSAT assets are unavailable. Troposcatter should continue to be used to provide parallel links backing up primary TACSAT links. As seen in OIF, TROPO links can be flexibly employed in their LOS mode when standard LOS and TSSR radios cannot meet planning distances or link reliability margins. In addition to these critical mission areas, troposcatter should be used in conjunction with both light and heavy data packages, especially when reliability is critical and TACSAT resources and assets are in short supply. For example, deploying a light TROPO system and light data package in lieu of TACSAT frees up a critical mission asset and still provides the customer with reliable communications. Both commanders and planners should be made aware of the capabilities, flexibility and reliability provided by their troposcatter systems.
Modernizing the Army troposcatter fleet gives the Signal Corps another critical tool to use in support of the warfighter. Appropriate use of troposcatter systems will help signalers to build and extend robust communications networks in the Joint environment.
Summary
From Desert Storm to ongoing action in OIF, usage of the troposcatter medium has allowed the expansion of the network to meet customer requirements. The implementation of the ITSB concept further expands the role troposcatter will play in future communications requirements. With TACSAT being cross-leveled across the ITSB battalions, troposcatter will become an even more critical piece of long-haul communications. Each battalion should have a mixture of light and heavy systems to give the commander the appropriate flexibility to meet any combination of tactical and strategic missions. Soldiers manning troposcatter systems in the ITSB concept should be given enough time to "specialize" on their systems to ensure operator effectiveness.
Within the ITSB model, troposcatter systems should not only be considered for switch-to-switch connectivity, but also for stand-alone data package extensions. Finally, upgrading current troposcatter systems with the latest commercially available transmission and multiplexing equipment will extend the service life of a valuable part of the Army longhaul arsenal. The future for troposcatter systems in the Army is bright--extending the GIG looking forward to transformational communications.
References
1) CECOM CECOM Communications Electronics Command (US Army)
CECOM National Center for Communications of the Civil Protection Agency LAR Handbook: Operation of Tactical Tropospheretroposphere: see atmosphere.
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troposphere
Lowest region of the atmosphere, bounded by the Earth below and the stratosphere above, with the upper boundary being about 6–8 mi (10–13 km) above the Earth's surface.
..... Click the link for more information. Scatter Communications Terminals, 01 May 2002
2) Joint Tactical Radio System Fact Sheet: AN/TRC-170(V) Digital Tropo-Scatter Radio Terminal, 01 February 2002
3) Material Field Plan For the Digital Troposcatter Multichannel Radio Set, AN/TRC-170(V)5, USMC, 23 July 1992
4) Reference Guide for Network and Nodal Managers, Version 4.0.2, 06 July 1998
5) Army Space Circular-3 Updated 2003
6) Officer Professional Development Brief Modularity, 03 June 2004, LTC LTC
abbr.
lieutenant colonel Paul Ladue, Commander, 67th Signal Battalion
7) The Conduct of the Persian Gulf War--The Final Report to Congress, April 1992
8) Current Operations and Lessons Learned in support of OIF I/II
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