Performance characteristics of the STANAG 5066 HF data link protocol

STANAG 5066 “Profile for HF Radio Data Communications” has been developed through a cooperative venture between DERA, Portsdown West, UK, and the NATO C3 Agency, the Hague. The “profile” describes a set of functions together with the interfaces, data formats, and procedures required for interoperable data communications over HF radio links using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) HF modems. The profile defines protocols for the transfer of both broadcast and ARQ traffic. Two prototype systems have been developed by industry and DERA have been evaluating their performance in order to gather the technical data required to support ratification of the STANAG. This paper presents the results of performance tests on the STANAG 5066 prototype systems over both simulated and on-air HF paths and compares their performance with the only comparable existing standard for the reliable transfer of data over HF radio, the US Federal Standard 1052. The performance of the adaptive data rate mechanism included in the STANAG is also reported