Available user information rate capacities in battlespace network centric sensor operations

As network centric operations (NCO) deploy in military missions on the land, sea and in the air, bandwidth demands dictate exploitation of available electromagnetic spectrum. This valuable warfighter resource must deliver timely information across various communication networks in the most efficient and reliable manner. Internet protocol version4/6 (IPv4/6) intends to achieve such bandwidth utilization but the more important question of latency and reliable information delivery stands paramount for swift and decisive actions. This bandwidth utilization comes to the warfighter in terms of available data rates and subsequent to that, information rates. Overall, the paper describes the major aspects desired in a reliable NCO communications system as well as the required element performances. This paper offers typical scenarios for various networked links, their associated data and information rates, expected latencies, and typical link closure distances. Analysis couples realistic example network formations to present a representative foundation for performance prediction, evaluation and measurement. This includes realistic constraints in representative environments producing analytical results suitable for communication system lay-downs. The paper concludes with system observations and a look to future efforts that would benefit the warfighter when completed.