| Airborne backbone networks spanning large geographical areas are becoming available with high-capacity point-to-point links. With the proliferation of mobile ad-hoc networks, an airborne backbone network may have visibility to many, otherwise distinct and isolated, mobile ad-hoc networks. In this scenario, the airborne backbone network has the opportunity to provide a connection between the mobile ad-hoc networks. This paper examines the protocol and bandwidth requirements on the mobile ad-hoc network, on the backbone network, on the gateway between the networks, and the performance of the resulting connected network. The impact of dynamics in the mobile ad-hoc network and the resulting control plane activity will be investigated. The performance of services utilizing the resulting mobile ad-hoc network will also be explored. |