Enabling Land Force Mobility

Transcription

1 Enabling Land Force Mobility Lesson Learnt from Ex Talisman Sabre 2015 DR. Peter Holliday and MAJ Jason Broderick Land Network Integration Centre (LNIC) Australian Army Headquarters Fyshwick, ACT Abstract Australia, like most First World Nations, is currently investigating how to re-enable Land Force mobility following a decade of static operations in the Middle East. The key to mobility are processes and procedures, and the systems that underpin them. The Land Network Integration Centre (LNIC) has been investigating the system component, with a focus on reducing the time and complexity surrounding the establishment and redeployment of deployed HQ, whilst maintaining network agility and flexibility. Using Exercise Talisman Sabre as the most recent example of how technology can achieve these effects, LNIC will define the programs being undertaken to support HQ mobility, and outline proposed initiatives that will further enhance the flexibility available to Land Force commanders. Keywords- Land Force Mobility, Commercial Solutions for Classified, TS1, BCN I. INTRODUCTION Following almost two decades of conflict in the Middle East, Western Armies are assessing current and future Land Force structures. One of the key assessments is that Western Armies, including that of Australia, have formed a Forward Operating Base (FOB) mentality that has resulted in large permanent formations, incapable of rapid deployment and redeployment. Much of the static nature of deployment is justified, however by harnessing technology, it may be possible to reduce the size of formation HQ, and again enable Land Force mobility. The focus of this paper is to outline technologies currently being investigated by the Land Network Integration Centre (LNIC) that have the potential to re-enable formation HQ mobility. In particular the LNIC is analysing how to leverage commercial CIS technologies, and the application of such technologies to the provision of a Command and Control, Situational Awareness, and Targeting (C2SAT) system in the HQ environment. The end state is the application of CIS technologies that not only improve the capabilities available to formation staff, but also removes the CIS infrastructure from the critical path to the mobility of a deployed HQ. This paper will use the recent bi-lateral exercise between Australia and the United States, Exercise Talisman Sabre 2015 (TS15), as an example of how the LNIC developed technologies have the potential to enable Land Force mobility. The technologies that will be discussed include Commercial Solutions for Classified wireless LAN, Tactical Black Core Routing, and the application of Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and multi-carrier per dish Satellite Communications (SATCOM), all of which were trialed during the conduct of TS15. The technologies discussed will also be assessed in terms of relative maturity, and LNIC s view on where the design path leads into the future. II. TALISMAN SABRE 2015 Talisman Sabre is the biennial bilateral exercise conducted between Australia (AS) and the United States (US) militaries, with the Land Component fielded in the Shoal Water Bay Training Area (SWBTA), Rockhampton, Queensland. In 2015 the Land Component Command was performed by the 25th Infantry Division (25ID), and the subordinate Brigades represented by the US 3/25 Brigade Combat Team (BCT) and the AS 7th Combat Brigade (7 CB) reinforced by elements from 6th Combat Support Brigade (6 CS Bde) providing intelligence, surveillance, targeting and reconnaissance assets, 16th Aviation Brigade (16 AVN Bde), and the 17th Combat Service Support Brigade (17 CSS Bde). The 3-Star Joint Task Force (JTF) HQ was provided by the US 1st Corps HQ, and conducted Command and Control (C2) operations from Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane. The focus for the LNIC was the design, build and execution of the Blue Force (BLUEFOR) network architecture, and support to the Mission Secret Network (MSN). The MSN had already been fielded with 7 CB during previous coalition activities; however the MSN deployment for TS15 was expanded to support information exchange with AS Enablers, and the US Early Entry Command Post (EECP). The EECP was provisioned by 25ID and performed the role of both Divisional HQ and Land Component Command (LCC). The MSN therefore became the vehicle to test other technologies that had been acquired to re-enable manoeuvre for the Formation HQ. The MSN is an Australian Army initiative designed to support the ABCA Exercise Aqua Terra conducted in Australia in The MSN aided in the development of the ABCA Coalition WAN standards and the ABCA Joining Membership and Exiting Instructions (JMEI) standards. The MSN also conforms to the US Mission Partner Environment (MPE) program through its core design, but differs from the MPE through the utilisation of an ISP model for domain interconnection rather than federated Peer-to-Peer dervice model. The ISP model for domain interconnection is achieved through the provisioning of a Coalition Services Hub (CSHub) which in itself is a domain DMZ. The final design for TS15 utilised the CSHub as the core DMZ between both AS MSN nodes, and the US MPE domain, -1-

2 referred to as the Mission Partner Network (MPN). As both domains and the CSHub were designed for the same releasability (Secret Releasable 5-Eyes), the CSHub was able to facilitate the information exchange between the core services: , chat, voice, VTC, collaboration, and Common Operating Picture. In order to manage both trials and network support tasks, the LNIC deployed into SWBTA and formed a Coalition Network Operation Centre (CNOC), charged with engineering and maintaining the BLUEFOR Information Exchange (IE) for the duration of the exercise. The network contained new technologies, and provided an invaluable opportunity to test new capabilities whilst under the stress of a live exercise deployment. Figure 1 illustrates the scale of the deployment, as well as the information exchange paths established to support the LCC C2. The TS15 architecture represented one of the most complex deployed for a domestic exercise, and included all the major elements of the Australian Army. It is important to note that the network layers (physical through transport) were built and maintained by the LNIC with capabilities that do not currently resident in the Raise, Train, and Sustain (RTS) environment. The purpose of fielding technology demonstrators was twofold; first to demonstrate the capacity of the systems under trial within a real world environment that exhibited all the constraints that are inherent for a deployed Land Force; and second, to illustrate the flexibility that these system provide to the commander, in particular the increased agility and mobility to the manoeuvre force. Key to illustrating these characteristics was the deployment of the Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) Wireless LAN, the TDMA / FDMA dual waveform SATCOM architecture, and the use of a peer to peer Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routed black core network to support the MSN information exchange methodology. III. TECHNOLOGY TRIALS A. Commercial Solutions for Classified Wireless LAN Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) is a US National Security Agency (NSA) program designed to take advantage of new and emerging commercial hardware and software for use in protecting national secure systems. CSfC employs a layered design technique to provide a sufficient mechanism for information assurance. The theory is that if multiple independent commercial security solutions are used, the resulting overall system security is maintained should one solution be compromised. The benefit of using CSfC is the ability to use modern commercial hardware and software that is smaller, cheaper and faster than purpose built high assurance devices. The LNIC worked with an industry partner to develop the first Australian CSfC Wireless LAN capability package for the MSN - a Secret Releasable to Five Eyes (SREL5E) information network. The benefits of using a secure wireless LAN in the HQ include: Users are able to work and move freely within the HQ no longer being tied to a particular location; The time to establish the HQ is significantly reduced; and The amount of physical network cable deployed is significantly reduced. The aim was to remove the LAN from the critical path for a formation HQ to achieve operational effectiveness. The CSfC layered design was achieved through three VPNs. The Wireless LAN radio frequency was covered by commercial WPA2 Enterprise encryption, an outer Suite-B VPN and an inner Suite-B VPN. CSfC requires independence of solutions to increase assurance, and this was achieved by Figure 1. TS15 OV1-2-

3 using different commercial vendors for each layer of the solution. The entire wireless assembly was delivered as a turn-key capability and was contained within a single four rack unit (4RU) deployable equipment case, connecting directly to the MSN Unit Node supporting the HQ. Figure 2 provides an overview of the system as deployed during TS15. The WLAN was provided to 17 CSS Bde to support their deployed HQ during TS15. The static nature of the formation HQ provided the ideal setting for observing both the user interaction with the system, and to confirm system performance and functionality. 17 CSS Bde conducted a step up activity during the initial stages of the exercise providing LNIC an opportunity to observe and assess the effect of wireless technology on HQ operations, where a reduction of 2 hours on the establishment of the HQ was observed. The future utility of WLAN will be focussed on the Combat Brigades, and in particular the mobile Forward HQ and Brigade Tactical HQ (Bde TAC). The WLAN system does not require physical cabling infrastructure to be established nor recovered, and supports any desired staff configuration. The RF signature can also be reduced by using reduce power levels at the edge and implementing RF geo-fencing around the HQ. power. These factors alone demonstrate the functional utility of the system in supporting HQ agility, and enabling mobility to the formation. IV. TDMA SATCOM The HQ of the future will demand timely and accurate information via the communications trunks deployed into an operational environment. SATCOM is the principal means by which large data files can be transported across the battle space; however, the traditional mode of deployed SATCOM, namely single carrier per dish Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), remains a fixed bandwidth service that is inefficient both from a bandwidth and resource perspective. Adding additional nodes using FDMA is time and resource consuming, requiring significant support from strategic agencies to enable. TDMA SATCOM is currently being introduced into the ADF with the delivery of projects such as JP 2008 Phase 5B1; however Defence s maturity in planning and conducting operations are limited. TDMA provides significant flexibility and efficiencies not currently available through the use of FDMA, and gives deployed commanders the ability to add and remove wideband nodes as required by the operational scenario. This methodology will improve the agility of the HQ to task organise as dictated by the mission, and to allow the commander to determine the best use of available bandwidth and where on the battlefield this bandwidth should be allocated. TDMA offers a class of service (CoS) model, over which an IP quality of service (QoS) model can be overlaid. TDMA CoS enables available bandwidth to be allocated against up to four service classes based on priority and information exchange requirements. TDMA CoS, coupled with Black Core Routing QoS, has the ability to reduce the size and quantity of terminals supporting a deployed HQ, thus providing a potential reduction to the time taken to establish the HQ environment. Figure 2. TS15 Wireless Trial -3-

4 TDMA also provides a deployed hub model, where deployed nodes directly connect back to the hub in theatre. The MSN and emerging episodic Mission Partner Environments (MPE) overlay this deployed hub model perfectly. The LNIC deployed two TDMA Hubs during TS15 to support information exchange between the AS Brigades and the US opportunity to reduce the number of deployed systems based on operational need, therefore reducing establishment time and the number of operators required to support the capabilities. To maximise the capabilities provided through the employment of TDMA, the employment of overlaid complimentary routing 7BDE REAR 7BDE MAIN AUSHUB LNIC Bearer System - TBC Bearer System - STA Note: Via ADF LES (WGS or Optus) Bearer System - STA PEGASUS Gateway DCS 7BDE FWD ICI Gateway DWACN IAS-E Note: Via ADF LES (WGS or Optus) FDMA TS910S CSHUB IVO The Glenn Note: Via ADF LES (WGS) 3/25 BCT IVO Sam Hill CDG WAHAIWA BG GRIFFIN FSG FSB UAS The Glen Airfield 25ID EECP Camp Growl Division without the need to rely on strategic gateways. The SATCOM hubs also supported multiple carrier per channel (MCPC) and multiple modulation modes, in that they were able to support multiple TDMA carriers forward into theatre, but also provided an FDMA rear link from a single dish. Figure 3 provides an overview of the architecture deployed, and illustrates the advantages of a multi-mode deployed hub providing both TDMA and FDMA. Note the flexibility it provides, and the reduction of satellite hops between network nodes. To summarise, TDMA SATCOM offers flexibility and agility to the deployed commander by allowing remotes nodes to be added and deleted as dictated by the operational scenario. TMDA also offers the commander greater autonomy over the utilisation of the available bandwidth through the programming of modem delivered CoS. A MCPC, multi-mode, single dish solution provides the deployed HQ with the flexibility of multicarrier TDMA, and the reliability of FDMA for the rear link in a single dish transportable terminal. The mobility component derives from two principle factors; first TDMA allows the commander to deploy SATCOM assets where and when required by the operation scenario, providing the ability to disperse or centralise assets to support C2. Second, the utilisation of multi-mode SATCOM provides the Figure 3. TS15 Trunk Connectivity Diagram schemas also needs to be considered. V. BLACK CORE ROUTING Black Core, or Colourless, Routing has been employed in the operational environment since 2012, but is yet to be introduced into the RTS environment. Black Core Routing has significant advantages over the traditional one-hop direct connection from the deployed node back to the strategic interface site. Black Core Routing (BCR) is a scalable peer-to-peer architecture that provides a multi hop deployed network. BCR utilises Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), which supports advanced traffic engineering features in a multi-node deployed network. The BGP model used by the BCR divides every nodes into a unique autonomous system (AS). This allows changes to be made at a particular node of the network without affecting other nodes within the network. This provides flexibility to be able to adjust the network whilst maintaining the integrity of connectivity between other AS within the Black Core Network (BCN). Figure 4 provides an overview of the TS15 BCN; demonstrating the independence of AS links, and relationship between routing and bearer systems (TDMA, FDMA and Cable). -4-

5 Black Core Routing also enables the aggregation of multiple networks into a single black network to optimise the use of bandwidth in the deployed environment. Although the majority of links within the TS15 construct only carried a single domain (MSN), 7 CB went a step further, aggregating all three domains (MSN / DSN / DRN) and the Digital Voice Network. The work conducted by 7 CB to aggregate all network traffic utilising Black Core Routing demonstrated how the capability may be deployed in support of all Land Force operations. It also demonstrated that once all services have moved to IP, other legacy aggregation devices become redundant, further reducing the equipment and training burden on the deployed force. Coupled with the concept of network aggregation is Quality The end state is less equipment to be deployed, greater autonomy to manage communications resources, and decreased time / increased flexibility to add or remove nodes supporting operational tempo. VI. LESSONS LEARNT The support to TS15 provided significant insight into the means by which communications can either enable of disable manoeuvre in the land environment. Apart from the plethora of technical challenges encountered throughout the activity, two considerations stood out when taking into account the use of the technologies discussed in this paper. The first is that one size does not fit all, and each node, of Service (QoS). To correctly police IP traffic passing through the BCN, the higher classified networks (DSN / MSN / DRN) need to apply a consistent QoS policy and pass the correctly marked packets down to the BCN. This requires the encryption device (TACLANE or IPSec) to support passing the IPv4 Type of Service (TOS) byte or IPv6 Traffic Class (TC) field through to the BCN unmodified. The single multiplexed black network is now able to dynamically shape service priorities and achieve efficiencies over low bandwidth, high latency celestial links, whilst simultaneously supporting a deployed commander s IERs. Additionally, QoS applied over multiple nodes provides a degree of control to the deployed user to manage network and services usage of available bandwidth, enabling a level of flexibility that has not been possible with legacy systems. The ability of BCR to enable Land Force Mobility is derived by the three functions provided by the capability: the use of multi AS BGP to support the rapid addition and removal of nodes as required by the operational scenario; the ability to aggregate multiple networks to maximise efficiencies when utilising deployed communications bearers; and a coherent layered approach to QoS across all security domains at both network and services levels providing increased control and flexibility. Figure 4. TS15 Black Core Network Topology formation, or deployment needs to consider the advantages and disadvantages of deploying certain types of communications technologies, and the effect that each provides to support C2. An example is the Wireless LAN deployed on TS15 to support 17 CSS Bde. The system currently supports small HQs such as Bde Forward or Tactical Nodes, but may not translate well into a large static HQ with little or no manoeuvre requirements. Similarly, access by a node into the TDMA cloud via a small remote terminal may not fit with that nodes mission profile, and perhaps a mid-tier wideband RF Tactical Radio may suffice. The key is to understand the effect that each capability provides, and the application of the effect when and where it is required as dictated by the operational scenario. The second consideration is the symbiotic interrelationship between the higher classified IP networks (Red Routing), the Black Core Network, and the bearer systems (SATCOM, line of sight RF or cable). A key lesson learnt when designing and engineering TS15, is that the level of integration complexity that IP networking introduces (due to its inherent flexibility) when considering how the Red Network overlays the Black Network, which in turn overlays the transmission network. This complex network engineering problem is perhaps beyond the skill level of Army. Each component cannot be planned in isolation, and planning tools and training are required if Army is to release the full benefits of these types of capabilities, to reduce the risk to such a network being deployed, and support land force manoeuvre. -5-

6 As with all programs conducted by the LNIC, a true understanding of how technology can be applied can only be observed once deployed within a representation of an operational environment. TS15 provided an invaluable opportunity to conduct capability trials with a representative land force user, with observed outcomes and lesson learnt driving future analysis and innovation. VII. FUTURE INITIATIVES / PROGRAMS The LNIC continues to investigate new and innovative methods of enabling Army through the application of CIS capabilities. With the completion of TS15, the LNIC has commenced scoping a number of new initiatives that are designed to not only support the Army in Being but to inform future projects or programs. The initiatives outlined below represent the main bodies of work planned to be investigated in the 2016/17 timeframe. A. RF Rationalisation The current Tactical Radio mission fit for Army Land Vehicles has not been designed as a sub-system of the platform, rather a system in its own right. This approach has resulted in suboptimal performance across the platform, leading to significant size, weight, power and cost (SWAP-C) challenges. The RF sub-system is a major component of any Land Vehicle, and using a platform System-of-Systems approach, the LNIC intends to investigate and rationalise the current mission fit in order to reduce SWAP-C. The Thales Protected Mobility Vehicle Command Variant (PMV-CV) is the platform chosen to conduct the initial systems integration analysis. The RF sub-system comprises of the Antennas, Radios, and Amplifiers that enable the transmission and receipt of tactical Voice, Data, and Full Motion Video (FMV). Components of the sub-system to be investigated includes a reduction in the number of antennas, more efficient use of physical radios and the introduction of software defined radios. RF amplification may also be shared, resulting in reduced space and power requirements to the platform. The aim in the first instance would be to demonstrate the alternatives without requiring any structural or engineering changes to the platform. distributed computing platform to support a small mobile HQ, coupled with a Wireless or WIFI solution, will further enhance mobility of the Land Force by reducing deployment times. C. Embedded Wireless and 4G LTE As previously discussed, Wireless or WIFI systems can dramatically increase the mobility of Land Forces by reducing the time taken to establish a HQ, and provides a commander the flexibility to configure the HQ environment as they see fit. Following the successful trial of the system during TS15, the LNIC plans to further enhance the capability by reducing the form factor, and by introducing 4th Generation Long Term Evolution (4G LTE) standard to provide a high bandwidth wireless backbone between vehicles both on-the-move or atthe-halt.. The intent of this program will be to reduce SWAP-C associated with the current wireless system and to verify if such a system could be housed within a vehicle platform, potentially integrated into the compute sub-system to support access for a dismounted HQ. The final objective is to investigate the use of 4G LTE in the field environment to better understand the standard s characteristics, capacity, and applicability to mobile Land Forces. VIII. CONCLUSION LNIC has invested significant resources to investigate the means by which Land Force Mobility can be re-enabled. Through the use of current generation technology, it is possible to enable Land Forces through the smart application of capabilities such as TDMA MCPC multi-mode single dish SATCOM capability, Wireless LANs, and Black Core Routing. It is only through demonstration and trial that these capabilities can be proven effective, and facilitates the removal of CIS from the critical path for a deployment. The results from trials conducted during TS15 are encouraging, however more investment is needed to realise the goal of mobile, agile, and flexible Land Force Manoeuvre. The LNIC will continue to investigate cutting edge technologies in order to validate the future application into Army. B. Embedded DLAN Vehicle architectures such as those proposed within the Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) and Vehicle Integration for C4ISR/EW interoperability (VICTORY) programs are all pointing towards each vehicle having an on board compute and storage capability. This is to provide C2 and SA applications as well as an environment to plan and execute operations. SWAP-C presents the greatest impediment to delivering this type of capability in its current form; and the LNIC intends to investigate an embedded DLAN capability with the intent of mounting the system into the PMV-CV. The basic requirements of the compute sub-system are scalability to support any vehicle type of role, availability to ensure that information can be presented where and when required, and sustainability for both common maintenance and upgrade. The ability to remove the storage component of the sub-system to enable vehicle sanitisation and the conduct of data analytics is highly desirable. In addition, the ability to connect multiple vehicle compute sub-systems to create a -6-

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