Integrated Tactical Networking Environment (ITNE) Concept ...

1 Integrated Tactical Networking Environment (ITNE) Concept of Operations (CONOPS) Signal Center of Excellence (SIGCoE) TRADOC Capability Manager Tactical Radios (TCM-TR) Ft. Gordon, GA 30905 Version 8 July 2013 Version 8 July 2013 ii | P a g e Left Blank Version 8 July 2013 iii | P a g e Version 8 July 2013 iv | P a g e DISCLAIMER The contents of this document are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents. The use of trade names in this document does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the use of such commercial hardware or software. Do not cite this document for the purpose of advertisement.

2 CHANGES Refer requests for all changes that affect this document to: TRADOC Capabilities Management Office for Tactical Radio (TCM TR), Ft. Gordon, GA 30905 DISPOSITION INSTRUCTIONS Destroy this document when no longer needed. Do not return it to the organization. Safeguard and destroy this document with consideration given to its classification or distribution statement requirements. This is a Sensitive but UNCLASSIFIED document. This document is FOIA exempt. Version 8 July 2013 v | P a g e Document Revision History Version Date Revision Type Editor 20 Dec 2012 1st Draft Mark Crawford 15 Apr 2013 2nd Draft w Appendixes LTC Grzybowski 01 May 2013 3rd Draft for AO Staffing LTC Grzybowski 10 June 2013 4th Draft 06 review Mark Crawford 08 July 2013 Final Version signed by SIGCoE CG Mark Crawford O6 Staffing comment resolution June 2013 Organization Substantive Administrative Approved DOT 0 12 12 TCM GNE 10 4 9 EXP DIV 0 0 0 CRD 0 0 0 TCM N&S 0 0 0 OCOS 10 0 10 Any questions regarding this document should be addressed to: TRADOC Capabilities Management Office for Tactical Radio s (TCM TR) Signal Center of Excellence | Ft.

3 Gordon, GA 30905 Version 8 July 2013 vi | P a g e Left Blank Version 8 July 2013 vii | P a g e Table of Contents General Description .. 01 Purpose .. 01 Background .. 01 Scope .. 02 ITNE Components & Operations .. 03 The Integrated Tactical Networking Environment .. 03 Radio Platforms .. 06 Waveforms & Waveform Applications ..07 Network Operations (NETOPS) Management System (NMS) ..08 Ancillary ..09 Mission command Mounted/Mobile Application ..10 ITNE Signal Operations ..11 ..11 Management ..23 Analysis .. 34 Vignettes .. 38 Intial Entry Operations .. 38 Phase III HIC .. 43 Roles and Responsibilities .. 47 Version 8 July 2013 viii | P a g e Appendix A Acronyms.

4 A1 Appendix B Glossary .. B1 Appendix C References .. C1 Appendix D Multinational Interoperability .. D1 Appendix E Radio Platforms .. E1 Appendix F Waveform & Waveform Applications .. F1 Appendix G Mission command Mounte/Mobile Applications .. G1 Appendix H Ancillary Devices .. H1 Appendix I ITNE NetOps Management System .. I1 Appendix J Aviation Integration .. J1 Appendix K Unit Task Reorganization .. K1 Appendix L ITNE Help Desk .. L1 Appendix M Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) .. M1 Appendix N Vignette Detailed Information .. N1 Appendix O Capability Set 13 Detailed Technical Procedures (DTPs) .. O1 Version 8 July 2013 1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Purpose: The purpose of this Concept of operation (CONOPS) is to provide a comprehensive definition, operational employment considerations, and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) associated with the capabilities contained within the Integrated Tactical Networking Environment , hereto after referred to as the ITNE.

5 The ITNE is the successor network Environment to what was termed the Lower Tactical Internet (LTI), the Combat Net Radio (CNR), and the Tactical Edge. The ITNE is in fact a combination and evolution of all three concepts through the integration of the joint Tactical Radio System based technologies and Mission command mounted and mobile applications. ITNE capabilities include the transport, Networking , and application layers of the IP based network as well as the network operations capabilities through which the ITNE operates. The ITNE is found in every echelon in the deployed Tactical force from Corps to Soldier as those echelons employ radio based networks that move voice and data. Although the ITNE exists at all echelons, this ITNE CONOPS will focus on the maneuver battalion and below.

6 The decision to focus on maneuver battalions is based on the volume of ITNE systems being fielded into these formations over succeeding capability sets. The objective ITNE radio volume provides a 500% increase at the company level when compared to Capability Set 11 and earlier. Capability Set 13 provides over a 100% increase in the volume of radios at company level. The exponential increase in capability and complexity at the battalion and below requires a Concept of operations that enhances understanding of ITNE capabilities, their interrelationships, and the key processes required to effectively plan, configure, manage, and monitor the current and future radio Environment in support of mission command execution.

7 Background: In the mid 1990s and early 2000s the ITNE was still a push to talk (PTT) SINCGARS and TACSAT world of group nets (CMD, O&I, A&L, FIRES, and MEDEVAC). The introduction of Force XXI battle command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) using Blue Force Tracking (BFT) with a low bandwidth satellite communication (SATCOM) system or Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS) for units using a terrestrial mesh Networking radio, provided the units with the capability to extended Situational Awareness (SA) and text messaging capability from the battalion Tactical operation centers (TOC) to commanders on the move. The lower Tactical architecture was rigged and built on stub-nets and mission command systems that lacked the ability to work well with other mission command systems.

8 The evolution of the Global Positioning System (GPS) during this same time period provided an enterprise level approach to the delivery of precise positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) information. GPS Tactical receivers were Integrated as stand-alone devices to meet the need for precise PNT for mounted and dismounted Tactical users or systems. Version 8 July 2013 2 During the past few years, mission needs resulting from operations in Iraq and Afghanistan added additional data requirements to add this operational Environment . This included the creation of forward operating bases (FOB) that required additional computer systems to perform key mission analysis and execution. command Post of the Future (CPOF), Tactical Ground Reporting Network (TIGRNET) and other computer systems required Theater Provided Equipment (TPE) network transport systems.

9 These transport systems include: High Capacity Line of Sight (HCLOS) radios; AN/PRC 117G radios using the Advanced Networking Wideband Waveform (ANW2); and SIPRNET / NIPRNET Access Point (SNAP) transit case deployable small SATCOM terminals at company CPs to increase the capacity, range, and duration of required network environments. Positioning and navigation information for SA and timing (Universal Coordinated Time) for network synchronization was provided through GPS Tactical receivers such as Precise Lightweight GPS Receiver (PLGR) and Defense Advanced Lightweight GPS Receiver (DAGR). Some systems such as AN/PRC 117G have PNT capability in the form of embedded military GPS receivers. These systems filled a gap in the ITNE to extend SA down to company level to meet immediate operational needs.

10 Today we are taking the lessons learned from the past and present missions and on-going materiel development efforts to build a comprehensive and fully Integrated system of systems Signal Concept that supports the deployment of a strong, reliable and redundant communications and network system for commanders utilizing the ITNE. It is important to note that the evolution of the legacy radio Environment into the ITNE in no way relieved the need for autonomous network fidelity in the absence of the high capacity backbone. There are times during key phases of operation where the ITNE serves as the primary communication and network system for commanders across the battlefield providing voice, data and video capability in the most austere environments and under the most demanding Phase III operations ( Air Assault & Airborne).