Thursday, November 14, 2024

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Swan Room

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Details

Tactical Data Links (TDLs) play a pivotal role in modern military operations, enabling real-time data exchange across platforms such as aircraft, ships, and ground units. These secure communication networks enhance situational awareness, decision-making, and interpretability among forces. However, modern adversaries employ sophisticated electronic warfare techniques, including advanced jamming, spoofing, and cyber threats, presenting new challenges. Ensuring resilience and survivability in such contested environments is paramount. Therefore, it is critical to develop modern communications technologies that can adapt to these complex challenges. In our presentation, we will discuss the state of the art of TDLs, emerging challenges, and research initiatives on how communication links can be adapted to overcome them. We will introduce Cognitive Radio technology and explore its applications in achieving an edge in various contexts. Additionally, Software Defined Radios have emerged as a great way to provide much-needed flexibility to transmission characteristics, which can be leveraged to improve tactical links. Contrary to conventional views, multipath communications and jamming can enhance the privacy and security of tactical links, as research shows. We will explore emerging trends in utilising multipath and jamming techniques to enhance the physical layer security of tactical links. Furthermore, we will discuss the future prospects of Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communications, extending TDL capabilities beyond traditional use cases. Lastly, we will delve into emerging trends in cellular technologies, including 5G and 6G, and how tactical communications can benefit from careful integration of commercial innovations while bridging the gap between military needs and technological advancements.

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Speaker