|
In recent years many of the airborne sensor technology development goals of the reconnaissance and surveillance communities have been either realized or about to come `on stream.' The challenge now is to get that sensor information to the warfighter in a comprehensive and timely manner. In this paper we will look at the communications architectures that will bring this information to the Navy's Battle Group Commander and enable him to fully coordinate sensor-to- shooter, theater based mission planning. The Common High Bandwidth Data Link-Surface Terminal (CHBDL-ST), which successfully completed TECHEVAL/OPEVAL aboard the USS Kennedy last year, will be central to that architecture. CHBDL-STs installed on carriers and amphibians receive data over the Common Data Link (CDL) from the airborne sensors providing digital imagery, signal intelligence (SIGINT), infrared and radar. At present, CHBDL-ST supports the Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System and the Battle Group Passive Horizon Extension System which provides the Carrier Battle Group (CVBG) electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) and SIGINT data respectively. Imagery from the airborne platform will be passed from CHBDL-ST to the Joint Services Image Processing System-Navy. Via CDL, through the CHBDL-ST, other manned and unmanned airborne platforms will be able to transmit their sensor data down to the CVBG. With the CHBDL-ST as the cornerstone of its reconnaissance/surveillance communications architecture, the CVBG will have access to the appropriate sensor data from organic and non-organic (i.e., joint) sources required to complete a theater wide battle picture. The paper will explore how CHBDL-ST, as the cornerstone of the CVBG's reconnaissance/surveillance communications architecture, will (1) receive data from the UAV's; (2) improve the time to receive and process imagery; (3) impact the dissemination of intelligence data fleet wide; (4) provide a battle picture for the forward deployed warrior; and (5) provide support for the forward deployed warrior.
|
