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The future of battlefield comms
Can battlefield communications really be low cost, resilient and truly performant all at the same time and what are the skills needed to achieve this?
Why resilient, high performance and low-cost?
In today’s rapidly evolving geo-political climate and following years of under-investment, there is renewed urgency to equip armed forces with state-of-the-art communications. There is an opportunity to take advantage of the explosion in satellite communications driven by dramatic reductions in cost of access to space – including through increasing dual use of satellite assets, whether by soldiers on the ground or novel weapons such as UAVs.
Whilst this is a hugely positive development, the critical need for resilience in battlefield comms is driving ever more complexity into the design and implementation of battlefield systems - to make them robust to vulnerabilities in space, on the ground and in supply chains. In addition, there is increasing pressure for rapid development of custom systems to meet specific needs e.g. in the face of desire for sovereign capability. This is resulting in a perfect storm of demand for the highly specialist skills needed to perform complex product development in short timescales.
The impact of dual use
Dual use and low cost ‘consumer style’ technology is increasingly being shown to offer significant cost and flexibility benefits over traditional reliance on dedicated milsatcom infrastructure in space
However, in taking advantage of these benefits, military use of such assets also offers some challenges.
Firstly this means addressing commercial satcom’s increasing physical exposure as military targets (in space and on the ground):
- Space domain and attacks on the ground mean that sole reliance on an individual network is not sufficient for reliable comms.
- Resilience therefore demands the ability to both employ networks from multiple satellite operators and also use different types of network such as GEO, LEO, HEO and HAPs – made even more challenging as networks continue to develop and evolve with incoming standards such as 5G NTN
Secondly this also means addressing the growing incidents of electronic attack:
- In the face of increasing jamming activities, user equipment (UE) needs to be flexible enough to be resilient to jamming activity
- Security and robustness are measured by metrics such as LPD (Low Probability of Detection) LPI (Low Probability of Interception) and LPE (Low Probability of Exploitation)
Finally, there is the need to mitigate the risks of an increasingly international satellite communications value chain in the design stage of new equipment:
- Sovereign capability is vital both to meet unique national operational needs and to ensure a trusted network of suppliers that avoids dependence on export‑controlled technologies and geopolitical fault lines.
When systems are built with these factors in mind, they not only enhance operational effectiveness and protect lives, but also lower total cost of ownership over their lifecycle.
Critical Trade-offs that have an impact on resilience, security and reliability
Whilst resilience is clearly key, this needs to be achieved in the context of other critical attributes
Pace of development
Modern warfare evolves rapidly. Systems must be designed and manufactured quickly, both to seize new opportunities (such as innovative drone control and deployment) and to counter emerging threats (such as vulnerabilities requiring multi‑orbit terminals).
True portability
Ask any soldier about their primary need for any battlefield equipment and beyond efficacy and reliability they will state the critical need to minimally impact on their agility and ability to evade the enemy. Whilst true for all personnel, this is a particularly specific requirement for special forces.
Usability
In the heat of battle, simplicity of use is paramount. Designing systems that are intuitive under pressure is difficult but essential, often requiring careful trade‑offs against other technical goals.
Interoperability
Resilience is also affected by Interoperability. Proprietary interfaces hinder NATO partners’ ability to share operational information whilst on deployment. Leveraging global standards (e.g., 5G NTN) while accommodating both NATO and sovereign standards is key, but requires careful balancing to preserve security in contested environments.
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Conclusion
Whether you’re a satellite network operator or a product vendor considering a new solution or product to rapidly react to government and/or military customers then we can help.
From an exploratory chat to exchange market and/or technical insights through to talking to us about an upcoming product or solution requirement then please don’t hesitate to get in touch
By leveraging TTP’s expertise, deeply embedded into a collaborative team alongside our tactical communications experts and seasoned military specialists, we have been able to deliver a product which offers a step-change in capability for end users within an extremely rapid time frame.
Simon Davies
Chief Executive at Spectra Group (UK) Ltd
Understanding the unique conditions presented by the harsh environment at sea, we partnered with TTP and SpaceCom to develop ELMA and deliver the reliable, resilient satellite communications capabilities that mariners need and expect from Viasat Government Services. Leveraging the exceptional capabilities of TTP to provide systems engineering along with SpaceCom’s proven capabilities in antenna development and integration of L-band systems, ELMA is the first of its kind L-band system, revolutionizing the capabilities of the Viasat ELERA network.
Alex Hayes
Sr. Director, Product Development & Engineering at Viasat Government Services
Over the next 8-10 years, we expect the presence of uncrewed vehicles in mixed airspace to outgrow that of commercial air transport. Leveraging TTP’s expertise, our new UAV terminals are designed to offer scalable and robust multi-link communications that are less reliant on existing infrastructure. This advancement supports the digital ecosystem and will significantly contribute to the modernisation of air traffic programmes.
Anthony Spouncer
Senior Director of Advanced Air Mobility, Viasat
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