Lessons learned for certifying IP-Based SATCOM technologies for WGS

With the continuing launch of the wideband global satellite communications (WGS) constellation, the Department of Defense (DoD) will have the opportunity to transition many existing military satellite communications networks from commercial satellite bandwidth to the military-owned satellite resources. Transition to WGS will provide the warfighter with additional capacity to augment future satellite communications (SATCOM) needs. Networks operating over WGS require employment of earth terminals and modems certified to meet applicable certification criteria specified in the WGS terminal certification requirements as defined by space and missile defense command/army forces strategic command (SMDC/ARSTRAT). The certification process ensures that terminals conform to the minimum performance and operational control requirements. The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is currently working to provide a systems engineering solution and transition plan for the global broadcast service (GBS) and the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) digital video broadcast - return channel via satellite (DVB-RCS) network, to WGS Flight 2. As such, the commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) based SATCOM systems used to provide the USCENTCOM DVB-RCS and GBS services must conform to the SMDC/ARSTRAT terminal and modem certification requirements. While military standards (MIL-STD) 188-164A & 188-165A set relevant criteria for interoperability and performance standards for frequency division multiple access (FDMA) operations, the MIL-STD has limited applicability to interoperability and performance of COTS Internet protocol (IP) SATCOM system using DVB waveforms. This paper will discuss COTS internet protocol (IP) based SATCOM system interoperability and performance standards employed in current-force GBS and USCENTCOM DVB-RCS network, the challenges COTS-based IP SATCOM equipment face for military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) certification, and suggestions for modernizing the- specification for IP SATCOM applicability.