Coordinated Operation Capability Using Scalable C2

Transcription

1 Coordinated Operation Capability Using Scalable C2 Authors: Hüseyin KUTLUCA, İbrahim AKSU, Arda ÜNAL MilSOFT Yazılım Teknolojileri A.Ş. Teknokent, ODTU Ankara / TURKEY [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Abstract The new threats in maritime domain, namely asymmetric threats, definitely introduces new concepts and requirements. These threats needed to be responded by fast and small crafts, beyond the physical borders of the combatants, in a much faster way, directed and commanded from operational commanders. Such operational necessities require positive control of assets from either Mother Ships or Ground Based Headquarters (HQ). This requires Command and Control (C2) functionalities to be scaled down to RHIB and small boats. Mother Ships to assets and ship to ship as well as Mother Ship to HQ communication can be setup for coordinated operations. Within this communication network, assets send track information and status. Mother Ship or HQ collect and share near-real time information from assets. This information is gathered, correlated, and processed in order to form Common Operational Picture (COP) and COP is disseminated to related units. MilSOFT s scalable C2 Solution that would work on laptops or single workstation provides state of the art functionalities and infrastructure for the assets. Depending on the project one or multiple of following communication alternatives can be used: I/P Radio, WIMAX, Satellite Communication, Radio Communication or AIS. Mother Ship and HQ can produce tasking orders for subordinate units and also receives the status of operating units. Furthermore, formatted messages, text and video chat and messaging capabilities can be used to enhance the coordination between units. Additionally it is possible to share created COP as a WEB Based COP at force level using the advantages of IT infrastructure. 1. Introduction The new threats in maritime domain, namely asymmetric threats definitely introduces new concepts and requirements. These threats needed to be responded by fast and small crafts, beyond the physical borders of the combatants, in a much faster way, directed and commanded from operational commanders. Such operational necessities require positive control of assets from either Mother Ships or Ground Based Headquarters (HQ). This requires Command and Control (C2) functionalities to be scaled down to RHIB and small boats. Historically, command and control communications have been carried on voice communication. As technology evolves, more powerful computing resources with smaller volumes and power requirement becomes available. Besides, scalable combat management system development enables C2 systems to be deployed on laptops or even to touch panel PCs. This technology enables scalable C2s on small boats and RHIB boats. Small boats need to be positively controlled through Mother Ships or Ground Based HQs. Depending on the communication network characteristics, different levels of data exchange mechanisms can be set up. For limited bandwidth environment, Tactical Picture and Commands

2 are the main communication elements. If communication bandwidth is higher, then video transfer, video chat, and WEB access capabilities further improve collaborated operations. Mother Ship to assets, ship to ship, and Mother Ship to HQ communication can be setup for coordinated operations. Within this communication network, assets sends track information and status. Mother Ship or HQ collect and share near-real time information from assets. MilSOFT s scalable C2 Solution that operates on laptops or single workstation provides state of the art functionalities and infrastructure for the assets. On the other hand, HQs and Mother Ships can be populated with a number of servers for storing months of tracks data, video and other mission related information. Multiple workstations or consoles at headquarters can be used by commanders to control ships under their control. Existing CMS systems are mainly configured for wartime operation capabilities. There are limited C2 capability for Maritime operations other than warfare. These new scalable C2 capabilities can easily be extended to cover such capabilities. C2 capabilities like Maritime Operation Management, Formatted Messages, Video Transfer, and Fleet Management can improve coordinated C2 capability. 2. Network Alternatives Depending on the project one or multiple of the following communication alternatives can be used: I/P Radio, 3G/4G, Satellite Communication, Radio Communication, or AIS. 3G/4G technologies becomes attractive in sea environments. It is possible to setup shore based base base-stations as well as configuring big ships (Mother Ship) as base stations. Military frequencies can be used for such high bandwidth communications. There are 3G/4G technologies enabling high bandwidth IP communication that even allows video chat capabilities. AIS system is widely used worldwide for secure navigation. Commercial channel is strictly limited for safe navigation purposes. However, additional AIS channels such as Secure AIS (also known as Warship AIS) can be used for military purposes. Therefore, Secure AIS channel can be used as a tactical communication environment. Small size AIS transponder and laptop can easily be located on RHIB boats for communicating to Mother Ship. When Mother Ship is away from coastal area, satellite communication may be used for exchanging data with HQs. Once data from ships are fused at HQs, this data (COP, and Fleet Status data) can be further distributed over terrestrial military intranet lines. As these lines has high bandwidth, data can be distributed using middleware technologies like DDS [3]. It is also possible to distribute data to greater extend using WEB based technologies.

3 3. Possible System Configurations and Tactical Picture compilation Scalable C2 capabilities and communication between these C2 nodes can be designed according to Navy, Coast Guard, or Other Units requirements. Figure 1 below shows a simple configuration where Mother Ship has positive control over its RHIB boat or ships/boats under her control. OV-1 High Level Operational Concepts Mother Ship Posıtion Info, Tasking Responses, Video «flow» Tasking Commands, Selected Tracks Local Tactical Picture Tasking, Common Tactical Picture RHIB Boat Ship Figure 1 Concept for Mother Ship commanding RHIB Boat or Boat under control Figure 2 shows a configuration where fore level coordination is achieved with 3 levels of control. HQ creates strategic orders and sends them to Mother Ships. Mother Ships perform coordinated C2 operations by commanding ships under her command. Mother Ship sends tactical commands to its subordinate units and Common Tactical Picture for more successful operations. Ships under command of Mother Ship can send video feeds or can join to video/text chat with commander in Mother Ships. OV-1 OV-1 Heartquarter COP or WEBCOP «flow» Other Units Common Tactical Picture «flow» Common Operational «flow» Picture Mother Ship Local Tactical Picture Tasking, Common Tactical Picture Ship Figure 2 Concept for Force Level Integrated System

4 At ship level, data received from ship sensors, like AIS, Navigation Radar, GPS is fused to generate Local Tactical Picture (LTP). Local Tactical Picture is then transferred to Mother to create Common Tactical Picture (CTP): Ships will transmit LTP to mothership Mother Ship will fuse Local Tactical Pictures to generate CTP, CTP will be displayed to operators at Mother Ship, CTP will be transferred to Ships/RHIB Boats CTP is transferred to HQ to form Common Operational Picture (COP): COP can be shared to all units over networks depending on their area of interest. COP can be displayed on big screens or video wall as 2D and 3D. COP can also be served as WEB COP with HTML 5 technology. This enables any unit to access to COP without any need to install any software. Figure 3 Tactical Picture on desktop and WEB 4. C2 Capabilities Related to Coordinated C2 Fleet asset management capability can be used as decision support tool for mission planning and assignment. Ships prepare and send their platform and system status information and send it to HQ. HQ combines data coming from ships and forms status force wise status and supplied to decision makers via web interface. Figure 4 Fleet Asset status Mission Planning & Management for Maritime Operations can be performed in coordination with following capabilities:

5 Formatted messages for mission plans and status reports, Tasking messages to ships/boats under control for mission execution, Create and share routes to direct ships under control, Create and send Patrol and Escort patterns, Perform Interception calculations and send to ship under control, Create Mission Reports and share with Commanding Units. IP networks enables videos from ships under control or unmanned vehicles to be streamed displayed in real-time. This video can also be recorded for later analysis. Video and image exploitation capabilities can be utilized onboard of mother ship or at HQs. With IP network available, it is also possible to give following collaboration capabilities to users of the system: Chat, Video chat File transfer WEB Portals Search and rescue capability is further extended to perform coordinated Search and Rescue operations by exchanging pattern and search area information among units. 5. MilSOFT C4I Capabilities MilSOFT s has been specialized on Combat Management Systems, Tactical Data Links (Link 1, Link 11, Link 16, Link 22, and JRE), Image Exploitation Systems, Electronic Warfare and Network Enabled C4I Capabilities. MilSOFT s Combat Management System (CMS) software follows the standards and guidance provided in OACE and uses DDS (Data Distribution Service) middleware. The use of OACE standard enables faster insertion of new technologies and systems with less complexity, which reduces total ownership cost. This is achieved by using standard based COTS products available through multiple vendors.

6 Figure 5 MilSOFT CMS Architecture MilSOFT s CMS has a layered architecture where standards based computing environment includes COTS computing technology, OMG s DDS middleware and OMG s AMSM Resource Management. Common Services that do not change across naval platforms. Common Functions layer includes tactical application components satisfying the requirements of naval platforms. MilSOFT uses its own implementation of DDS Middleware called MILDDS. MilSOFT CMS is a state-of-the art and scalable CMS so that MilSOFT CMS serves the needs of all naval ships from small Patrol Vessels to OPVs, frigates, LPDs, and even aircraft carriers. It is worthwhile to mention at this part that one of the important advantages of MilSOFT s CMS infrastructure among many is the Link-16 / Link-22 based data structure. MilSOFT uses same computing environment for its CMS and Data Link Processor products. This enables seamless integration of CMS with DLP. Common Functions layer includes tactical application components satisfying the requirements of naval platforms. Examples of Common Functions are track management, warfare, simulation, and training. All of the common function components are based on modern Link-16/22 data model for future compatibility. MilSOFT has developed Tactical Data Link Processor providing Link 11, Link 16 and Link 22 functionality. With the help of her scalable and modular architecture, MilSOFT s tactical data link processor system allows plug and play integration of new data links like VMF, JREAP and can easily be adapted to needs of various platforms. MilSOFT s CMS, with these outstanding features has already implemented the CMS solution for Turkish Coast Guard Command Search and Rescue Ship, Genesis Multi Data Link System Software, MILGEM Corvette Multi Data Link System Software, New Type Submarine Program Link 11/22 system Turkish MPA Link 16, and many other international projects.

7 6. Conclusion New concepts and requirements to counter asymmetric threats introduces Small Boats and RHIBs, are more and more a supporting asset in this era of asymmetrical warfare. This paper has mainly examined the threats and the requirements for small boat C2 systems, and evaluated C2 technology in the scope of MilSOFT s current scalable CMS technology. Implementation can be realized by using different communication alternatives such as I/P Radio, 3G/4G, Satellite Communication, Radio Communication or AIS. The study results show that Small Boat C2 Systems provide the following advantages in operation area; Small boats and RHIBs are positively controlled through Mother Ships or Ground Based HQs, Mother Ships and/or HQs will have capability to generate Common Tactical Picture (CTP) or Common Operational Picture (COP), which increases the situational awareness at operational area, WEB technologies to share / display CTP, COP and Fleet Status between participating units. MilSOFT s Current C4I capabilities provide C2 solutions for Tactical level assets (RHIB, small combatant ships), operational level assets (large commanding ships, mother ships), and Strategic level (HQs). Data Exchange Infrastructure between all assets Coordinated C2 Solution» can provide C2 capability for ships not having any C2 on board. It is also possible to deploy this capability to Coexist with on board warfare oriented Fire Control/CMS capability. Such a solution will augment Coordinated C2 operations and out-war operations. 7. References [1] V. Beyazgün, H. Kutluca, A. Ünal, Link 16/22 Compatible Combat Management System for Achieving Interoperable Open Architecture, MAST [2] I.E. Cetin, H. Kutluca Applying OACE and OMG Standards to the Development of CMS Systems, MAST conference [3] H. Kutluca I. E. Cetin, H. Kutluca, M. Kilic, U. Çakır, Developing MilSOFT DDS Middleware, OMG Real-time and Embedded Systems Workshop.