Communication range extension for the Intelligent Munitions System

Future variants of unattended Networked Munitions and Ground Sensors will be remotely deployed tens of kilometers forward of the control point. Systems like the next generation of the Intelligent Munitions System (IMS) will provide a means to dominate an area on the battlefield via remote control and prevent the passage of enemy forces while allowing for the safe passage of friendly forces by providing manual control of the armed and sensing states of the deployed IMS components. Given that the components need to be relatively small for low probability of detectability (LPD) and for remote delivery, the antennas for the communications systems are expected to be very close to the ground. Recognizing that limited Size Weight and Power (SWaP) and the proximity of the antennas to the ground severely limit the communications range, we examine alternatives for increasing the range and the challenges associated with each alternative. The alternatives can be partitioned into two broad categories; physical layer improvements and systems architecture. Systems architecture approaches consist of incorporating relays between the transmitter and receiver. In general, physical layer approaches can be categorized as HW and/or SW improvements. Some HW-based approaches are currently under consideration and being analyzed within the IMS. The primary issue in the system architecture approach would be to identify either existing resources of opportunity that could be used, such as satellite or Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs), or to use specially designed relays in netted-sensors architecture. We examine these alternative architectures and recommend UAS relays as the most feasible range extension approach, albeit with its own challenges.