| It has been shown that future planned satellite access and capacity may not be sufficient to provide the required beyond-line-of-sight tactical communications demands anticipated for the 2018 period. This results in limitations in the reporting and distribution of C4ISR data from Army and AF airborne and ground-based platforms. This paper discusses the use of not only UAVs in RF communications relaying but of High Altitude Airships (HAAs) with the added possibility of implementing laser links to space. Airborne optical links to TSAT with RF distribution to either other airborne or ground terminals will alleviate many bandwidth bottlenecks. The HAA could provide a platform for the concentration of RF and routing for optical re-transmission to space unencumbered by atmospheric effects. Also, the airborne communications layer, already part of the planned WIN-T architecture is shown to offer other advantages with the HAA.
The airborne layer provides improvements in network performance for disadvantaged ground terminals, COTM and can provide new cellular-like and broadcast services. Also it is shown that for many BLOS applications, in-theater, they can obviate the need for satellites altogether, providing direct links to teleports and the GIG. Application of one or two high altitude platforms can for many geographies of interest, including the Caspian Sea, provide direct interface with a Teleport Gen III.
Implications and constraints of the HAA based airborne communications architecture for C4ISR are analyzed including ranges and link budgets for achieving given data rates.
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