Maturing the software communications architecture for JTRS

This paper summarizes the status of the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) software communications architecture (SCA). As the result of steps taken by the JTRS Joint Program Office (JPO) and the Modular Software-programmable Radio Consortium (MSRC), the SCA is at a level of maturity that ensures the goals of the JTRS program can be met. The SCA defines the framework for JTRS implementations in a manner that provides for communications interoperability, portability of application programs, and the ability to leverage commercial development and product availability into JTRS procurements. Key features of the SCA are the core software framework interfaces defined in a standard interface definition language (IDL), communication waveform application program interfaces (APIs) and API building blocks, and requirements for embedded INFOSEC and for INFOSEC APIs. The JTRS JPO has contracted with multiple vendors to implement these elements to validate the architecture. The results have shown that the architecture can be implemented in multiple products providing interoperable communications and that waveforms can be ported between different implementations with greatly reduced effort compared to that required in current radio designs. The SCA is designed and expected to grow as systems are procured and experience is gained with fielded equipment. The efforts to date show that the SCA meets or exceeds the goals and expectations of the JTRS JPO in defining the framework on which to base those equipment designs.