Evolving Interoperable Network Architectures for NATO Coalition Forces

Military communications capabilities have evolved under stringent requirements for reliability and security. Today, these legacy systems need to support Network Enabled Capabilities (NEC) but are challenged to provide the bandwidth and interoperability common in civilian systems. Internet Protocol (IP) has become the universal standard for flexible networking and the pre-requisite for advanced solutions. Consequently, a network architecture for NATO coalition interoperability must integrate the legacy and IP worlds. Various factors, such as security, subnetworking, information management and mobility management for NATO requirements are examined in this light and a proposal made for a generic Defence Intranet Architecture (DIA) framework from Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components. The architecture supports future C4ISTAR requirements and a battlefield communications subsystem (BATCOM) is shown as an example of the architecture. The relationship of the architecture to NATO INSC is discussed and the work undertaken by RMR to address one of the issues is summarised. Also the relationship with the EU project MIND is discussed in the context of trust in coalition networks. The increasing commonality of modern military and civilian communications requirements demonstrates the need for converged architecture frameworks and dual-use product offerings.