The Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS, often pronounced "jitters") is planned to be the next-generation voice-and-data radio used 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 (MANETs). The JTRS program has been beset by delays and cost overruns, particularly GMR, run by Boeing.[1] 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. The JTRS is built on 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. [edit] JTRS Product Line The JTRS radios will work with existing and future communication systems. JTRS is composed of five ACAT 1 programs and one ACAT 3 programs. - Ground Domain
- GMR - formerly 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 included the development of a Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW), a next-generation Internet protocol (IP)-based waveform designed to allow mobile ad-hoc networking (MANET). In 2005, the cluster was renamed Ground Mobile Radio (GMR) with the Air Force TACP and Army helicopter radios deleted.
- HMS - formally Cluster 5, led by the Army, is developing handheld, man-portable, and smaller radios. In 2006, it was renamed HMS, for Handheld, Manpack, and Small Form Factor.
- Airborne, Maritime, Fixed Station
- JTRS AMF - formerly Clusters 3 and 4: 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.
In early 2008, JTRS AMF attained Milestone B after it received an additional $700 million. Cost estimates conducted by OSD's CAIG determined that the original amount, just over $500 million, was too little. On March 28, 2008, Lockheed Martin announced that the JTRS Joint Program Executive Office picked it to design and provide tactical communications and networking gear for the Air Force, Army, Navy and other users. The initial System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract value is $766 million. Subcontractors will include BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon. Work will be conducted at Scottsdale, Ariz.; San Diego, Calif.; Tampa, Fla.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Gaithersburg, Md.; St. Paul, Minn.; Wayne, N.J.; Charleston, S.C.; and Chantilly and Reston, Va. - MIDS-J. 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 and has also experience cost growth and delays.
- Special Radios
- JEM. - formally 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.[2]
- Networking Enterprise Domain
- NED - JTRS Networking Enterprise Domain: This Program develops all the waveforms and network management software for all the JTRS radios.
[edit] Problems and restructuring 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 changing the management structure, reducing the scope of the project, extending the deadline, and adding money. The JPEO's recommendations were accepted. The program is focusing on the toughest part: transformational networking. The JTRS radio is to be a telephone, computer and router in one box that can transmit from 2MHz to 2GHz. 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. Program delays forced DOD to spend an estimated $11 billion to buy more existing tactical radios, such as the U.S. Marine Corps' Integrated, Intra-Squad Radio, the AN/PRC-117F and the AN/PRC-150. On June 22, 2007, the Joint Program Executive Office issued the first JTRS-Approved radio (not JTRS-Certified) production contract. It gave Harris Corporation $2.7 billion and Thales Communications Inc. $3.5 billion for first-year procurement and allowed the firms to compete for more parts of the five-year program. Harris could make up to $7 billion; Thales, $9 billion.[4] In July 2008, the head of OSD AT&L conducted a 10-hour program review after costs continued to grow. Additionally, the JTRS Ground Mobile Radio program, originally funded at around $370 million, has now exceeded $1 billion despite reduced requirements. [edit] Delivery [edit] JTRS Ground Mobile Radio (GMR) - Delivered 71 pre-EDMs to support FCS S01; Delivered 73 open chassis radios to support GMR/WF development and test
- Delivered first 2 EDM radios in mid-September 8
- Integration, Lab Testing and Field Experimentation ongoing - FE#4 completed
[edit] JTRS Handheld, Manpack, Small Form Fit (HMS) - Delivered 274 pre-EDM and EDM radios (pre-EDM Small Form Factor (SFF) A, C, D)
- Delivered 61 of 65 Rifleman Radios (RR) **note: rumored to feature new weightless technology
- Delivered 22 Manpack Tech Demos (MPTD)
- Integration, Lab Testing and Field Experimentation ongoing - successful 25 node SRW test complete, RR LUT (Apr 09)
[edit] Consolidated Single-Channel Handheld Radios (CSCHR) - Delivering over 85,000 radios and accessories to the Services
- Have returned over $330M to services due to competitive acquisition strategy[citation needed]
[edit] Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS)-JTRS - Delivered 4 terminals to F/A-18 for DT; 5 TACAN flights completed
- Delivered 6 T&I terminals to support F/A-18, B-1/JSTARS and OA
- 22 additional terminals on contract to support F/A-18 DT/OT and IOC; deliveries started 9/08
- Integration, lab testing, and F/A-18 DT on-going; 8 flight tests completed
[edit] JTRS Airborne, Maritime, and Fixed Station (AMF) - Completed initial designs and prototypes through PDR
- SDD contract awarded
- Program fully-funded
- APB and IBR complete
- EDM Deliveries in FY 2011
[edit] JTRS Network Enterprise Domain (NED) - Legacy waveforms completed FQT, in JTRS IR (VHF LOS, UHF LOS, HQ II, COBRA, SATCOM 181/182/183/184, SINCGARS, EPLRS, JTRS Bowman)
- Networking waveforms completed FQT, in JTRS IR (SRW 1.0c); Networking waveforms and management, interim versions in JTRS IR (WNW v3.5, JWNM v3.5, TTNT v6.0)
[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
- Mobile User Objective System (MUOS): It is important to note that the JTRS HMS manpack is the only radio program of record that will deliver terminals supporting the next generation UHF TACSAT MUOS program. 85% of all MUOS terminals are expected to be ground radios, so if JTRS HMS fails, MUOS (funded in the billions) fails as well - unless a COTS solution is developed...of course MUOS has also had its share of problems, recently announcing yet another 6 month slip for launching its first satellite.
- 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 Mobile 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] References [edit] External links |
