Joint Tactical Radio System
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The Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS, often pronounced "jitters") is planned as the next-generation voice-and-data radio for use by the U.S. military in field operations after 2010. Launched with a Mission Needs Statement in 1997 and a subsequent requirements document in 1998 (which has been revised several times), JTRS is a software-defined radio that will work with many existing military and civilian radios. It includes integrated encryption and Wideband Networking Software to create mobile ad hoc networks (MANet).
The functionality and expandability of the Joint Tactical Radio System are built upon the Software Communications Architecture (SCA), an open-architecture framework that tells designers how hardware and software are to operate in harmony. It governs the structure and operation of the JTRS, enabling programmable radios to load waveforms, run applications, and be networked into an integrated system. A Core Framework, providing a standard operating environment, must be implemented on every hardware set. Interoperability among radio sets is increased because the same waveform software can be easily ported to all radios.
The Object Management Group (OMG), a not-for-profit consortium that produces and maintains computer industry specifications for interoperable enterprise applications, is working toward building an international commercial standard based on the SCA.
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[edit] Clusters
The JTRS radios will work with existing communication systems and grow to accommodate new requirements and technologies.
The JTRS capabilities were originally broken down into five form-fit-function domains:
- Cluster 1, run by the Army, was to equip Marine and Army ground vehicles, Air Force Tactical Air Control Parties (TACPs), and Army helicopters. Cluster 1 also includes the development of a Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW), a next-generation Internet protocol (IP)-based waveform designed to allow ad-hoc mobile networking. In 2005, the cluster was renamed Ground Mobile Radio (GMR) and the Air Force TACP and Army helicopter radios deleted.
- Cluster 2 was renamed the JTRS JEM program, adds JTRS capability to the existing handheld AN/PRC-148 Multiband Inter/Intra Team Radio (MBITR) to create the JTRS Enhanced MBITR (JEM). Led by U.S. Special Operations Command, the development effort has certified and fielded the radio.[1]
- Cluster 3 aimed to develop a maritime / fixed radio. It was led by the Navy and grew out of the Navy's previous Digital Modular Radio program.
- Cluster 4, led by the Air Force, aimed to provide radios to Air Force and Navy fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. In 2004, Clusters 3 and 4 were combined into the Airborne and Maritime / Fixed-Station program. In 2006, the Army helicopter radio was added to this cluster.
- Cluster 5, led by the Army, is developing handheld, man-portable, and smaller radios. It was renamed HMS, for Handheld, Manpack, and Small Form Factor.
In 2006, the JTRS program took over the effort to improve the Multifunctional Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminal (MIDS-LVT) design, which was developed by a 5-nation consortium in the 1990s. This program was renamed MIDS-JTRS.
[edit] Problems and restructuring
The JTRS program has been beset by delays and cost overruns, particularly Cluster 1, run by Boeing.[2]. Problems included a decentralized management structure, changing requirements, and unexpected technical difficulties that increased size and weight goals and made it harder to add the required waveforms.
In March 2005, the JTRS program was restructured to add a Joint Program Executive Office, a unified management structure to coordinate development of the four radio versions. In March 2006, the JPEO recommended a new management structure, reducing the scope of the project, and extending the deadlines.
A September 2006 Government Accountability Office report said these changes had helped reduce the risk of more cost and schedule overruns to "moderate."[3]
The U.S. military no longer plans to quickly replace all of its 750,000 tactical radios. The program is budgeted at $6.8 billion to produce 180,000 radios, an average cost per radio of $37,700. Due to the delays in the program, the DOD has been forced to spend an estimated $11 billion to purchase existing tactical radios, such as the U.S. Marine Corps' Integrated, Intra-Squad Radio, the AN/PRC-117F and the AN/PRC-150.
[edit] Waveforms
JTRS was originally planned to use frequencies from 2 megahertz to 2 gigahertz. The addition of the Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW) waveform means the radios will also use frequencies above 2 GHz. Waveforms that will be supported include:
- Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW)
- Single Channel Ground Air Radio System (SINCGARS) with Enhanced SINCGARS Improvement Program (ESIP), 30-88 MHz, FM, frequency hopping and single frequency
- HAVE QUICK II military aircraft radio, 225-400 MHz, AM, frequency hopping
- UHF SATCOM, 225-400 MHz, MIL-STD-188-181, -182, -183 and -184 protocols
- Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS), 420-450 MHz spread spectrum
- Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW) (under development)
- Link-4A, -11B, - 16, -22/TADIL tactical data links, 960-1215 MHz+
- VHF-AM civilian Air Traffic Control, 108-137 MHz, 25 (US) and 8.33 (European) kHz channels
- High Frequency (HF) - Independent Side Band (ISB) with Automatic Link Establishment (ALE), and HF Air Traffic Control (ATC), 1.5-30 MHz
- VHF/UHF-FM Land Mobile Radio (LMR), low-band 25-54 MHz, mid-band 72-76 MHz, high-band 136-175 MHz, 220-band 216-225 MHz, UHF/T 380-512 MHz, 800-band 764-869 MHz, TV-band 686-960 MHz, includes P25 public safety and homeland defense standard
- civilian marine VHF-FM radio, 156 MHz band
- Second generation Anti-jam Tactical UHF Radio for NATO (SATURN), 225-400 MHz PSK Anti-jam
- Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), includes Mark X & XII/A with Selective Identification Feature (SIF) and Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS), Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS) and Traffic Alert & Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), and Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Addressable (ADS-A) and Broadcast (ADS-B) functionality, 1030 & 1090 MHz
- Digital Wideband Transmission System (DWTS) Shipboard system for high capacity secure & nonsecure, line-of-sight (LOS), ship-to-ship, and ship-to-shore, 1350-1850 MHz
- Soldier Radio & Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), 1.755-1.850, 2.450-2.483.5 GHz, Army Land Warrior program 802.11
- Cellular telephone & PCS, includes multiple US and overseas standards and NSA/NIST Type 1 through 4 COMSEC (SCIP)
- Mobile Satellite Service (MSS), includes both VHF and UHF MSS bands and both fielded and emerging low Earth orbit and medium Earth orbit systems and standards, such as Iridium, Globalstar, et al. Includes capability for NSA/NIST Type 1 through 4 COMSEC, 1.61-2 [2.5] GHz. May allow use of geosynchronous satellites with special antenna.
- Integrated Broadcast Service Module (IBS-M). Currently three legacies UHF military broadcasts (TIBS, TDDS, and TRIXS) which will be replaced in the future with a Common Interactive Broadcast (CIB).
- BOWMAN, the UK Tri-Service HF, VHF and UHF tactical communications system.
Several of the above waveforms will not be supported in JTRS Increment 1 and have been deferred to "later increments". Currently, only Increment 1 is funded. The requirements document for JTRS Increment 2 is under development. JTRS Increment 1 threshold waveforms include:
Waveform/Applicable radios (based on JTRS ORD Amendment 3.2.1 dtd 28 Aug 06)
- SRW: Small Form Fit, Manpack, AMF-Small Airborne, Ground Moble Radio
- WNW: Ground Mobile Radio, AMF-Small Airborne
- MUOS: AMF-Small Airborne, AMF-Maritime, Manpack (funding was recently added for the manpack)
- Link-16: AMF-Small Airborne, MIDS-J
- UHF SATCOM DAMA: Manpack, Ground Mobile Radio, AMF-Maritime
- SINCGARS ESIP with INC: Ground Mobile Radio
- SINCGARS ESIP: Handheld, SFF, Manpack, Ground Mobile Radio
- EPLRS: Handheld, SFF, Manpack, Ground Mobile Radio
- HF SSB/ISB w/ALE: Ground Mobile Radio
- HF SSB w/ALE: Manpack
- JAN-TE: MIDS-J
[edit] JTRS Radios Fielded
On June 22, 2007, in the first production contract issued by the Joint Program Executive Office for the next generation SDRs, the U.S. Department of Defense selected Harris Corporation and Thales Communications Inc. to compete for multiyear delivery contracts to supply new multiband radios to US Armed Forces, as part of Joint Tactical Radio System. Harris received $2.7 billion while Thales Communications Inc. received $3.5 billion to cover the first year procurement. Both orders represent framework awards, allowing the two companies to compete on segments of the five year program, totaling $7 billion for Harris and $9 billion for Thales. [4]
Harris will offer the Falcon III AN/PRC-152(C) handheld radio and AN/VRC-110 50-watt vehicular radio. Thales will most likely offer the MBITR JEM and AN/VRC-111 vehicular radio. Neither of these two radios are true JTRS radios. Neither of them meet all the threshold requirements in JTRS Operational Requirements Document (ORD) 3.2 or ORD 3.2.1 amendment. Both of them were initially developed outside of the JTRS program of record and have been upgraded to meet minimum standards set forth by JPEO JTRS and OSD. The Falcon III radio is a COTS product. The JTRS Enhanced MBITR (JEM) was originally developed under a USSOCOM requirements document (as the MBITR). It was placed under the JTRS program in 2002 (as Cluster 2) and underwent engineering changes to make it JTRS SCA compliant. Both of these radios are currently used in various theatres by U.S. Operational Forces.
The first JTRS ORD compliant radios that are expected to go into limited rate production (LRIP) are the MIDS-J and Small Form Fit A radios. Both are expected to enter LRIP in fiscal year 2009 (FY09). The JTRS Ground Mobile Radio, Manpack and Handheld Radios are expected to enter LRIP in FY11. The JTRS AMF-Small Airborne and Maritime radios are expected to enter LRIP in FY12.
- AN/PRC-148 (MBITR JEM)
- AN/PRC-152
