| This paper provides an overview of naval communications and the network architecture during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Joint Combined Combat Operations (JCCO). Types of communications available included (1) satellite – Ultra-High Frequency tactical satellite (UHF TACSAT), Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS), Extremely-High Frequency (EHF) (e.g., Low Data Rate [LDR] and Medium Data Rate [MDR] Military Strategic Tactical Relay System (MILSTAR), International Maritime Satellite (INMARSAT), and Commercial Wideband Satellite Program (CWSP), and (2) Tactical Digital Information Link (TADL) Link J – Link 11 and Link 16 (High Frequency [HF], Super-High Frequency [SHF], and UHF). Bandwidth allocations for different network services on board several different afloat units are presented. Reasons and consequences of the variability of these bandwidth allocations are then discussed. |