Tactical Wireless Communications and Networks: Design Concepts and Challenges

6.3 The Role of Commercial Satellite in the Tactical GIG

In addition to the HNW and NCW capabilities, the tactical GIG can utilize point-to-point cables, point-to-point high capacity microwave links, and commercial satellite links to create a rich topology and high capacity links, when possible. The use of HAIPE encryption makes it possible to use commercial satellites since encrypted packets can be safely sent through the commercial networks. Although the use of commercial satellites can form many types of topologies (mesh, hub/spoke, hybrid, etc.), we will focus on the hub/spoke topology, which relies on the existence of a satellite hub.

Figure 6.19 denotes a teleport hub which services both unclassified (linkage to the non-secure Internet Protocol router network (NIPRNET), DSN, and even to the public switch telephone network—PSTN) and classified (SIPRNET—secret Internet Protocol router network, defense red switch network—DRSN and DVS—DISN video services²⁰) hosts. The teleport hub allows all users of the tactical GIG to access these services or any other CONUS services. With hub/spoke architecture, all nodes equipped with commercial satellite terminals have a direct link to the hub. This forms a star topology, with the hub as the focal point. The architecture of each node is discussed below.

Figure 6.19 Notional view of the hub/spoke architecture with commercial satellites.