Network management challenges for joint forces interoperability

There are numerous challenges one can face while creating joint network management in tactical networks. Although many of these challenges are political, there are significant technical challenges that are currently being addressed by the research community. This article presents some of the challenges faced by the NM architecture from the tactical edge and across the global information grid, where IPbased networks and radios must work together seamlessly in joint missions in the presence of encryption tunnels. It shows some cases where unconventional NM techniques must be considered in order to meet the objectives of joint missions. These techniques should be considered when different networks from the same force (e.g., the U.S. Army), joint U.S. military services´ networks, and coalition forces´ networks interface together. The article is divided into three main sections. The first presents some of the urgent challenges facing NM interoperability across the GIG, while the second covers an architectural approach that relies on gateway nodes and abstraction techniques. The third section presents a conflict resolution case showing how different tactical network managers need to interface to each other with techniques that are not considered in commercial networks.