Imlementation of a shared resource model in a tactical radio system

Traditional tactical radio architectures are limited in their ability to scale up to support wideband waveforms operating beyond 2 GHz and to scale down to make more efficient use of processing resources when supporting narrowband channels. A move to a shared resource model in a tactical radio system addresses these issues by facilitating processor capacity assignment based on the specific needs of each instantiated waveform. A key enabling technology supporting this paradigm is the use of a packet switched fabric, such as RapidIO, that is capable of supporting the interprocessor connectivity required in a shared resource model while maintaining the performance necessary to support operation on a frequency hopped network. This paper examines the requirements for a tactical radio architecture employing a shared resource model, and explores some of the challenges inherent in the use of a switched fabric for this type of system.