The joint IP modem: Overview, capabilities and Global Information Grid integration

In February 2006, the Department of Defense (DoD) Chief Information Officer (CIO) issued a memorandum with the subject heading, ¿Department of Defense Policy for Transmission of Internet Protocol Over DoD-Leased and DoD-Owned Transponded Satellite Communications Systems¿ explaining the need to provide a single solution that supports direct interoperability between users, maximizes bandwidth-on-demand efficiencies, and does not constrain the Department to a single vendor´s products. The memorandum goes on to recognize the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) as the executive agent to provide technical leadership, and develop a strategy to acquire and install the Joint Internet Protocol Modem (JIPM) for use by the COCOMs, Services and Agencies. DISA ensured that the JIPM was based on Net-Centric technologies utilizing open standard DVB-S2/RCS and COTS IP technology to achieve timely and economical delivery of capabilities with the addition of NSA approved transmission security (TRANSEC). Bandwidth efficiency and security are increasingly more important as Net-Centric satellite communications are seamlessly integrated with the Defense Information Systems Network Global Information Grid (DISN/GIG). As explained in this paper, the JIPM will deliver this efficiency and security to satisfy DoD Gateway´s (e.g., Teleport and STEP) requirement to provide secure, worldwide IP Satellite Communications (SATCOM) access to the deployed WarFighter (e.g., GBS) and to deliver capabilities essential to meeting tactical remote user´s communication requirements to achieve final authority to operate.