Defense Technology International - October 2007 - (Page 58) THE NET PETER BUXBAUM how they can reduce or eliminate the problem,” Atkins says. On the technology side, Carey ar“In theater, spectrum is king.” So sion auctioned 90 MHz. of governsaid Robert Carey, chief information ment-held licenses to commercial ticulates a near-term goal to increase officer of the U.S. Navy, at a recent wireless concerns last year. The the Navy’s use of spectrum by 20%. industry gathering in Washington. auction raised billions of dollars Technology companies are answerCarey’s remarks hint at both the for the government, but squeezed ing this challenge by developing opportunities and the pitfalls that the supply of spectrum available for spectrum-management devices such as cognitive radios. These include military organizations face with national security purposes. There are two approaches un- built-in intelligence that allows the their increased reliance on radios, radio to shift from frequency to freradar systems and wireless quency based on bandwidth availcomputers, all of them usability and priority. ing the radio-frequency (RF) “In a battlefield environment, bands of the electromagnetic you need tools to manage specspectrum. trum dynamically in real time,” The opportunities involve extending the military comnotes Bell. “The troops in closmunications network so that est contact with the enemy need more and better information greater access to spectrum.” flows from planners, analysts Cognitive radios identify areas and commanders to shootof unused spectrum until another ers. The problem is making device with higher priority comes radio-wave frequencies acon. The radio then shifts to a difcessible at the lowest tactiferent frequency until the original cal level to soldiers, airmen, one becomes available again. sailors and marines. “These radios use artificial intelAn F-16 takes off from a base in Iraq ligence to continuously analyze The RF spectrum is a finite to provide close air support to ground what is around them and built-in commodity in increasing de- troops. Pilots often receive target inforparameters to decide which part mand. Every new wireless mation in real time, making access to raof the spectrum is best to use at gadget on the consumer dio frequencies critical to mission success. any given time,” explains Murat market demands bandwidth. Efforts are underway to allocate spec- derway to attack these problems. Bicer, a product marketing manager trum more efficiently. Some advocate One is bureaucratic. The Defense with Mercury Computer Systems of the implementation of a national Information Systems Agency (DISA) Chelmsford, Mass., a company that strategy to coordinate its use. established the Defense Spectrum provides software for such devices. The military’s efficient use of raThe increase in radio-based ca- Organization (DSO) last year to propabilities results in a shortage of vide spectrum use analysis, planning dio frequencies becomes more imavailable frequencies and the prob- and support. The other approach is portant as the private sector seeks ability that signals will clash. The technological. Private-sector compa- wider swaths of spectrum. classic example is the B-2 bomber’s nies are developing devices that use “There will be a tug-of-war beradar, developed at vast expense, bandwidth more efficiently. tween corporate America wanting which is being replaced in another DSO’s mission is to ensure that to allocate radio spectrum to busibillion-dollar effort because its op- troops have access to information ness and consumer applications, erating waveband—held secret by and communications without con- and defense agencies desiring to the Pentagon—was auctioned off cern over degradation from other allot spectrum to military applicafor civilian use. systems, says Paige Atkins, DSO’s tions,” says Greg Giaquinto, a senior The availability and apportion- director. But the military does not analyst at Forecast International in ment of frequency is essential for have a single system to track the Newtown, Conn. military missions, notes Bud Bell, a use of radio frequencies. DISA’s sevThe prospect of a protracted battle retired U.S. Air Force general who eral databases that do so are not all between defense and national secuspecialized in command-and-con- updated in real time. DSO is devel- rity agencies and the private sector trol technology. “Air-tasking order oping the Global Electromagnetic suggests the need, says Atkins, for used to be developed over 72 hr.,” Spectrum Information System to a national authority to develop and he says. “Today, we fix, target, get the most out of the military’s execute a spectrum strategy, which could include spectrum sharing. track and engage targets in near- bandwidth. An analysis unit has been set up But time is of the essence in getting real time. If spectrum is not available, the target may be lost.” by DSO to keep tabs around the such a strategy going. “The wireless While networked in-theater de- clock on what systems are in use data communications explosion that vices are proliferating, military or- and to determine what interfer- was expected five or six years ago ganizations have access to fewer ence they might cause to others. will be happening soon, and with it radio-wave frequencies. The U.S. “If the potential for interference is will come a bandwidth explosion,” Federal Communications Commis- detected, staffers tell warfighters says Bicer. I 58 DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL OCTOBER 2007 U.S. AIR FORCE MIXED SIGNALS www.aviationweek.com/dti http://www.aviationweek.com/dti
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