A hybrid processed/transponded MILSATCOM waveform and multiple access design concept

The paper presents a concept for a hybrid processed/transponded MILSATCOM waveform and multiple access technique that has been proposed for the Advanced Wideband System (AWS) follow-on to the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite System (WGSS) and planned EHF processed systems. The proposed concept has been developed to accommodate the needs for connection-oriented (circuit-based or virtual circuit-based) and connectionless-oriented (i.e., packet-based) network-centric support communications. The basic concept takes advantage of the digital transponder operational (DTO) capability being developed for the WGSS and current onboard frequency de-hopped and demodulated AEHF waveforms. The essence of the concept is to divide the terminal communications carrier into time division multiplex (TDM) frames of three segments (C0, C1, and C2). The choice of whether the C0 segment is assigned to a demodulator or is treated as a digitally filtered and routed signal (i.e., as in DTO) depends on the time dynamics of the user requirement and the data rate. This concept also permits the virtual circuit treatment to be established between multiple beams on a short-term schedule set up via the C2 control channel.