Cognitive radio networks for tactical wireless communications

....... The modern battlefield is a demanding environment for tactical radio networks in that in addition to the variation in the wireless propagation environment, the radio must co-exist and contend with a high density of emitters having varying waveforms. Cognitive Radio (CR) is widely considered as a promising technology for providing the mechanisms to mitigate interference, and allow more flexible and dynamic radio resource allocation. Many nations and organizations have put forward a roadmap for applying Cognitive Radio Networks (CRN) to tactical communications; an overview of these is given in this report. We will also document current Canadian defence Research and Development (R&D) programs in this area, and provide our perspectives and plans for future research. We look at the significance of cognitive radio networks for our future tactical wireless communications, in terms of the benefits, technological challenges, and the implications for security. CRNs are expected to provide benefits such as Dynamic Spectrum Access for fast network deployment and ease of spectrum congestion, increased communications resilience in dynamic, heterogeneous environments, and may provide the basis for the tactical radio as a multi-functional radio-frequency (RF) unit, capable of supporting intelligent Cyber Electromagnetic (EM) attacks and defences. In our current and future research, we wish to provide solutions which empower the CRN to achieve all of these benefits without compromising security. Significance to defence and security Our future tactical wireless communication systems will have elements of the concept known as cognitive radio, but securing the cognitive radio network is an area of current research and development. In this document, we define the scope of the term cognitive radio and we look at its implications for tactical wireless communications in terms of the benefits, technological challenges, and security challenges. We provide an overview of some recent thinking from the international defence scientific community in this area, and describe our own approach to security solutions for cognitive radio networks. Our own roadmap, or outlook is given, which will guide our current and future research into faster, smarter, and more resilient tactical wireless communications. DRDC-RDDC-2014-R185 i