USCENTCOM Commercial SATCOM Overview Presented to Commercial SATCOM Workshop

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USCENTCOM Commercial SATCOM OverviewPresented to
Commercial SATCOM Workshop

• Ron Dixon
• Commercial Satellite, Network Engineering
• CCJ6-CO
• 5 December 2006

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Agenda (U)

• (U) Background - History
• (U) Current Commercial Bandwidth in AOR
• (U) USCENTCOM Commercial Satellite History (U)
• (U) Operational Challenges
• (U) JNTC Networks
• (U) The CENTCOM Model
• (U) CENTCOM Lessons Learned
• (U) Conclusions

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Background (U)

• (U) Prior to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)
  (Sep 01), USCENTCOM Area of Responsibility (AOR)
  was predominately supported via Military
  Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM)
• (U) Limited Commercial SATCOM links via CSCI-
  terminals, during late 1990s/early 2000s (3
  terminals)
• (U) Satellite mission requirements - mainly short
  duration, thus met via MILSATCOM resources vice
  Commercial SATCOM leases

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Current Commercial SATCOM (1 of 3) (U)

• (FOUO) Current Commercial SATCOM in USCENTCOM AOR
  (Stats) - 36 Task Orders (T.O.s) via DISA-CST
  (DSTS-G Contract) by Components/Services and DISA
  directly into AOR - Leases on 10 different
  satellites - Over 85 different satellite
  transponders (whole/partial) - Providing
  3.84 GHz of capacity (Inter Intra-Theater) -
  Total costing 129.4M/yr (T.O. costs/Service
  DISA) - Annual growth rate 10-15/yr over the
  past two years

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Current Commercial SATCOM (2 of 3) (U)

• (FOUO) Commercial SATCOM (Operational view) -
  Continued use of multiple Ku-Band T.O.s vital to
  sustainment operations throughout the AOR -
  Commercial SATCOM provided the must needed
  capacity required for contingency operations (OEF
  and OIF), especially for UAVs, etc. - CENTCOM
  will continue to utilize the right mix of both
  Commercial SATCOM and MILSATCOM resources to meet
  mission requirements across the AOR - Continued
  growth rates of Commercial SATCOM will be
  dependent upon multiple factors(duration of
  current activities, mission changes, emerging
  requirements, etc) - Overall, mission
  requirements exceed MILSATCOM capabilities and
  economics will continue to play a factor in
  further commercial SATCOM leases

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Current Commercial SATCOM (3 of 3) (U)

• (U) Commercial SATCOM Industry Assistance -
  Continue DISA-CST (DSTS-G) contract and/or
  re-competition (as required) to continue source
  of Commercial Satellite bandwidth/leases similar
  to current contract capability - Streamline
  sourcing of new Commercial Leases for
  last-minute, high-priority, highly-versatile,
  mission requirements (i.e. w/in 96 hrs) --
  Provide capability to procure in short notice
  and -- Work out contracting issues (CLINs,
  etc.) - Continue to allow working dialog with
  users (CoCOMs) to help work out tough issues
  (e.g. mission changes, multiple transponder
  shifts, transmission plans, etc.) to ensure
  smooth execution of missions - Acknowledge US
  Governments mission requirements (largest
  single user), fair-competitive pricing, bulk
  discounts, priority, availability of leases, etc.
  

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USCENTCOM Commercial Satellite History (U)
DESERT STORM 48 MHz (47 Mbps)
Sept 01 48 MHz (45 Mbps)

CENTCOM AOR 5.1 () GHz Nov 06
130X the Bandwidth Increase between Sept 01 and
Nov 06
3950 Mbps SAT
3644 Mbps SAT
Ten satellites supporting 36 task orders
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Operational Challenges (U)

• (U) Operational environment is in constant flux
• (U) Bandwidth availability for future network
  changes
• (U) Educating the boots on the ground (rotating
  military operators and planners)
• (U) Vendor responsiveness/situational awareness
• (U) Continue to work at streamlining the
  acquisition process to be as responsive as
  possible, timeliness, etc.
• (U) Satellite terminal configurations

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JNTC Networks (U)

• The architecture utilizes both FDMA and TDMA
  links
• (U) Satellite Terminals - 2 different types of
  terminals in the Network
• Joint Network Node Hub/Spoke (JNN) (FDMA/TDMA)
• Command Post Nodes (TDMA only)
• (U) Initial JNTC equipped Division employed
  largest TDMA network ever employed in CENTCOM AOR
  (3ID)
• (U) 4ID replaced 3ID and utilized the majority of
  the bandwidth we have on lease to support the
  JNTC Divisions
• 1st CAV recently replaced 4ID

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JNTC Networks (U)

• ((U) 101st fielded with next spiral of the
  communications packages Differences compared to
  3ID
• Joint Network Node Hub Configuration
• Increased number of terminals
• Increased bandwidth requirements
• (U) Lessons learned from previous JNTC networks
  were passed to the 101st at planning conferences
  leading up to deployment
• Relied less on line of sight due to the
  configuration of the network
• Bandwidth modeled per 3ID/4ID requirements
• (U) Addressed cross poll issues experienced by
  3ID
• Encountered major cross poll interference issues
  when the 101st stood up

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JNTC Networks (U)

• 25 ID replaced the 101st
• Initially transition went very smooth
• 25 ID utilized the lessons learned from previous
  JNTC deployments
• Unfortunately we still experienced major cross
  poll interference with approximately 8 of their
  terminals
• Negatively impacted another user

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Joint Network Transport Capability (aka JNN)
Gateway Hub
Up to 76 MBps Commercial Satellite
Bandwidth
Sanctuary
Existing (Legacy) Equipment
Global Information Grid
Joint Network Node (JNN) Network Equipment
7 MBps Satellite 36 MBps Terrestrial
Unit of Execution (UEx) Brigade Combat Team (BCT)
Tactical Satellite
Classified Data
Classified Voice
Commercial Satellite Terminal
Tactical Satellite (SMART-T)
High Capacity LOS Transmission
Element Mgmt
LAN/Network Management
-
Unclassified Voice
Unclassified Data
4 MBps Shared Satellite 2 MBps Terrestrial
Battalion
Commercial Satellite Terminal
High Capacity LOS Transmission
Classified and Unclassified Data
LAN Management
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Joint Network Node (JNN) (U)

• JNN JNN HUB

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Command Post Node (CPN) (U)

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The CENTCOM Model (U)
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CENTCOM Lessons Learned (U)

• (U) Leasing capacity as contiguous transponders
  is
• Most cost effective for the US Government
• Allows for integration with the existing networks
• Provides for flexibility to support contingencies
• (U) Close interface with the vendors once Task
  Order is awarded is a key to mission success
• (U) Interface with vendors Network Operations
  absolutely critical to successful missions
  (especially during lease acquisition)
• (U) There are significant challenges associated
  with each and every request for service
• B/W availability
• Integration into existing network or point to
  point
• Terminal and base-band equipment availability

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Conclusions (U)

• (U) Commercial satellite capacity is extremely
  VITAL and important for USCENTCOM
• (U) Commercial Satellite bandwidth provides
  USCENTCOM the means to support our Warfighters
  mission across the AOR
• (U) Reliance on commercial satellite capacity
  will continue at current levels, with potential
  for continued increases/new T.O.s
• (U) CENTCOMs ability to manage commercial
  bandwidth is an important cornerstone to our
  overall mission success