Digital IF for MILSATCOM terminals: CONOPS and standardization for the next decade and beyond

A compelling case has been made for transitioning military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) terminal architectures from conventional analog IF (Intermediate Frequency) formats to newer more capable digital IF (Intermediate Format) systems. Digital IF has been shown to offer clear and substantial advantages in all aspects of MILSATCOM terminal activity and operations, from development to deployment, from signal quality to cost and footprint, from control, monitoring and alarm (CMA) systems to built-in test (BIT) features. Significant performance, cost and footprint advantages can be realized in terminals of all sizes, large, medium and small. A Digital IF initiative can yield early and disproportionately high yields on a modest investment because no new technology is required to begin the migration to all-digital MILSATCOM terminals. Such a migration offers clear paths to unprecedented growth of services to the warfighter. Work is now in progress to study digital IF architectures and to experimentally prototype digital terminal systems, subsystems and signal formats. The overwhelming potential of Digital IF for MILSATCOM terminals, and recent progress in its development, both beg the question: What must the MILSATCOM community do now in order to achieve the earliest and maximum return on a modest Digital IF investment? This paper addresses this question by considering MILSATCOM terminal Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and digital IF standardization. For purposes of this manuscript, MILSATCOM “CONOPS” is addressed in a broad sense. This paper considers a broad range of terminal characteristics and operational aspects. These include architecture, RF performance, equipment complement, terminal installation, certification, network planning, equipment configuration, security, testing, network monitoring and technology migration. The purpose of broadly addressing CONOPS is to feed the strategy of appropriately optimizing an open commercial interface stan- - dard for Digital IF in MILSATCOM terminals. A standard is required for ensuring plug-and-play interoperability of terminal equipment from all vendors over all terminal platforms. A single uniform open commercial standard not only maximizes the advantage to the community, the operator and the warfighter; it also fosters innovation and competition among vendors, increasing the number and commitment level of commercial stakeholders. The benefit is additional compound improvement of service and value to the community and to the warfighter. It is to these ends that the process of developing and introducing an appropriate digital IF standard is considered. The single most important step right now towards quickly achieving the compelling advantages of the all-digital terminal is the development and community-wide acceptance of a single common open commercial interface standard. This paper reports progress to date and the way forward towards achieving such a standard within the MILSATCOM community.