| Objective: | Research and develop ground test and diagnostic tools to serve as a computer-based Host Platform Simulator for the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Wideband Network Waveform (WNW), or JTRS WNW.
| Description: | JTRS is the next generation radio system that will replace all current radio systems onboard military aircraft and in military ground stations. All Radio Frequency systems acquired by the Department of Defense (DOD) must meet the current standards for software and hardware configurations set forth by the JTRS Joint Program Office (JPO). All radios purchased by the DOD must be some variant (cluster) of the JTRS family of radios. JTRS will be capable of performing 32 different legacy radio functions, currently performed by separate radios, plus the new WNW function. Every platform in the DOD must integrate and field JTRS WNW.
The 32 legacy radio functions performed by JTRS can be tested using existing radio ground test equipment developed when that function was originally integrated into AF platforms. However, to test and evaluate the JTRS WNW functionality and interoperability onboard an aircraft, adequate ground stations and diagnostic tools must be developed and made available to the Test and Evaluation (T&E) community.
WNW is the next generation Tactical Digital Information Link (TADIL), a follow on to the Link 16 Waveform and an eventual replacement to all other radio waveforms. WNW will be a capability of the JTRS Cluster for Airborne-Maritime-Fixed (AMF) applications, to be utilized by all Air Force (AF) platforms. JTRS AMF hardware will have WNW capability that will require a controlling host platform to function and process data.
In AF applications the host platform would usually be the aircraft Mission Computer and Operational Flight Program (OFP). In a ground test and diagnostic station there is no aircraft; all of the OFP functions will need to be simulated to make the JTRS WNW function. The ground test and diagnostic stations would likely utilize a JTRS radio and a software program that interfaces with the JTRS radio to act as the OFP of a host platform. The technology challenge is to develop that software program while WNW is still in development. WNW is expected to be more advanced and complicated than any other form of communications systems ever used by the DOD.
| | PHASE I: Research the feasibility of developing a PC based software tool to provide basic control and communications of the JTRS WNW that will provide the minimal functionality needed to operate a JTRS WNW ground station and the JTRS AMF radio currently under development.
| | | PHASE II: Develop a prototype Windows based PC based software tool that provides basic control and communications of the JTRS WNW to provide a JTRS WNW ground station. Incorporate JTRS WNW emulation of multiple host platforms (i.e., Airborne, Maritime, and Fixed) and test and diagnostic capabilities. Develop a reconfigurable ground test station that can emulate real platforms and monitor and analyze the JTRS WNW functionality, heath and status real time down to the internal process level of the JTRS utilizing this software tool and a JTRS AMF radio.
| | DUAL USE COMMERCIALIZATION: This system can be duplicated and used at testing and evaluation (T&E) centers well as training and experimentation facilities DOD wide. The software tool will also find use within both academic and commercial environments supporting advanced communication system development.
| References: | 1. Joint Tactical Radio System Impact.doc
2. JTRS ORD JROC Approved (11Mar03).doc
3. JTRS Program Schedule, Migration Plan v6.0
4. Waveform Schedule, WNW FDD
5. 2003-06-17_ASD_NII_Spectrum
(all of these documents are available at http://jtrs.army.mil)
| | Keywords: | Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS), Wideband Network Waveform (WNW), Host Simulator, Test Tools. |