Secure Military Communications Can Benefit from Accurate Time

Some military communications systems have requirements quite different from civilian systems. Among others there is the necessity to protect military communications from detection, interception, exploitation, or disruption by adversaries, particularly during times of hostilities. There are a number of techniques available to protect communications against these threats. Some of them can benefit from unambiguous time information. A hypothetical military communications system is used in this paper to discuss these protection techniques and to illustrate how time may assume a useful role in their operation. The paper will also cover sources external to the communications system from which the necessary time information may be obtained.