Joint Tactical Radio System
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The Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS, often pronounced "jitters") is planned as the next-generation radio for use by the U.S. military in field operations for the second decade of the 21st century. JTRS a software-defined radio for voice and data that will be backward-compatible with a very large number of other military and civilian radio systems. It also includes Wideband Networking Software to implement full-featured mobile ad hoc networks. JTRS includes integrated encryption capabilities. The JTRS operational-requirements document was released in 1998.
The functionality and expandability of the Joint Tactical Radio System are built upon the Software Communications Architecture (SCA). The SCA is an open-architecture framework that tells designers how elements of hardware and software are to operate in harmony within the JTRS. It governs the structure and operation of the JTRS, enabling programmable radios to load waveforms, run applications, and be networked into an integrated system. A Core Framework, providing a standard operating environment, must be implemented on every hardware set. Interoperability among radio sets is enhanced because the same waveform software can be easily ported to all radio sets.
The Object Management Group (OMG), a not-for-profit consortium that produces and maintains computer industry specifications for interoperable enterprise applications, is working toward building an international commercial standard based on the SCA.
Clusters
The JTRS family of radios will be interoperable with legacy communication systems and capable of growth to accommodate new requirements and technologies.The JTRS capabilities were originally broken down into five form-fit-function domains.
- Cluster 1 includes requirements for Marine and Army ground vehicles, Air Force Tactical Air Control Parties, and Army rotary-wing aviation. Cluster 1 JTRS is being developed by the U.S. Army. Cluster 1 also includes the development of a Wideband-Network Waveform (WNW). The WNW is a next-generation Internet protocol (IP)-based waveform designed to provide ad-hoc mobile networking.
- Cluster 2 adds JTRS capability to an existing Enhanced Multi-band Intra-Team Handheld Radio (MBITR) development effort led by U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM).
- Cluster 3 is a maritime / fixed terminal development for the Navy.
- Cluster 4, led by the Air Force, will provide Air Force and Naval Aviation radios for rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft.
- Cluster 5 is developing handheld, man-portable, and small-form-factor "dismounted terminals." The Army is the lead on this newly approved cluster.
Cluster 1 has been revised and now is for ground vehicles only and is now known as Ground Mobile Radio or GMR.
Clusters 3 and 4 have been combined to form the Airborne and Maritime / Fixed-Station program. In Spring of 2006, Army Airborne radios were transitioned from JTRS GMR to the AMF JTRS program. Future Cluster objectives will address satellite communication.
Problems and restructuring
In March, 2005, the JTRS program was restructured to add a Joint Program Executive Office, which will help coordinate development of the four radio versions. There was a realization that the U.S. cannot afford to replace all 750,000 tactical radio systems in use in the near term. The program is budgeted at $6.8 billion to produce 180,000 radios, an average cost per radio of $37,700.Waveforms
Originally planned to span a frequency range of 2 megahertz to 2 gigahertz, JTRS has been expanded to frequencies above 2 GHz to satisfy space communications requirements. Waveforms that will be supported include:
- Single Channel Ground Air Radio System (SINCGARS) with Enhanced SINCGARS Improvement Program (ESIP), 30-88 MHz, FM, frequency hopping and single frequency
- HAVE QUICK II military aircraft radio, 225-400 MHz, AM, frequency hopping
- UHF SATCOM, 225-400 MHz, MIL-STD-188-181, -182, -183 and -184 protocols
- Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS), 420-450 MHz spread spectrum
- Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW) (under development)
- Link-4A, -11B, - 16, -22/TADIL tactical data links, 960-1215 MHz+
- VHF-AM civilian Air Traffic Control, 108-137 MHz, 25 (US) and 8.33 (European) kHz channels
- High Frequency (HF) - Independent Side Band (ISB) with Automatic Link Establishment (ALE), and HF Air Traffic Control (ATC), 1.5-30 MHz
- VHF/UHF-FM Land Mobile Radio (LMR), low-band 25-54 MHz, mid-band 72-76 MHz, high-band 136-175 MHz, 220-band 216-225 MHz, UHF/T 380-512 MHz, 800-band 764-869 MHz, TV-band 686-960 MHz, includes P25 public safety and homeland defense standard
- civilian marine VHF-FM radio, 156 MHz band
- Second generation Anti-jam Tactical UHF Radio for NATO (SATURN), 225-400 MHz PSK Anti-jam
- Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), includes Mark X & XII/A with Selective Identification Feature (SIF) and Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS), Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS) and Traffic Alert & Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), and Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Addressable (ADS-A) and Broadcast (ADS-B) functionality, 1030 & 1090 MHz
- Digital Wideband Transmission System (DWTS) Shipboard system for high capacity secure & nonsecure, line-of-sight (LOS), ship-to-ship, and ship-to-shore, 1350-1850 MHz
- Soldier Radio & Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), 1.755-1.850, 2.450-2.483.5 GHz, Army Land Warrior program 802.11
- Cellular telephone & PCS, includes multiple US and overseas standards and NSA/NIST Type 1 through 4 COMSEC (SCIP)
- Mobile Satellite Service (MSS), includes both VHF and UHF MSS bands and both fielded and emerging low Earth orbit and medium Earth orbit systems and standards, such as Iridium, Globalstar, et al. Includes capability for NSA/NIST Type 1 through 4 COMSEC, 1.61-2 [2.5] GHz. May allow use of geosynchronous satellites with special antenna.
- Integrated Broadcast Service Module (IBS-M). Currently three legacies UHF military broadcasts (TIBS, TDDS, and TRIXS) which will be replaced in the future with a Common Interactive Broadcast (CIB).
- BOWMAN, the UK Tri-Service HF, VHF and UHF tactical communications system.
External links
- [Software Communications Architecture Homepage]
- [Joint Tactical Radio System program]
- [SCA Research and Development at the Communications Research Center Canada (CRC)]
- [JTRS Training Courses]
- [Wireless Infrastructure Software for JTRS]
- [Joint Tactical Radio Expected To Meet Special-Warfare Needs]
- [JTRS pages at globalsecurity.org]
- [JTRS and SCA development resources]
- [JTRS System Engineering and Performance Modeling Tools]
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