Frag Out! Magazine
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The third one is a medium bandwidth waveform. It allows for range ex- tension with the simultaneous duplex operation of three radios, with PLI (Position Location Information) data transmission also taken into the ac- count. It makes it possible to carry out singular signal re-transmission, establishing connectivity at a total distance of several kilometers. SILENT NETWORK PERAD is a foundation of the SILENT NETWORK solution, that makes it possible to gain an information advantage with simultaneously reduced EM signature. Thanks to the use of airborne signal transmitters onboard UAVs, further range extension is possible. SILENT NETWORK ensures communications are available across vast areas, with any type of terrain (buildings, forests, mountains), with the use of radio relays carried by cheap, hand-launched UAVs. That network is also a challenge when it comes to detecting for the enemy ECM. SILENT NETWORK ensures that the user gains an information advan- tage, with a significant reduction in the EM signature levels. The tests have proven that if a re-transmitter is used, the radio's power output may be reduced by more than 70%. Detection of whether a UAV is used for communications is accomplished automatically. Deployment of the SILENT NETWORK system also allows the soldiers to access (simultaneously) aerial reconnaissance, communications, joint fires, and available loitering munitions, artillery assets, air support, or even weaponry carried by the fighting vehicles. It also diminishes the load carried by the individual soldiers. Thanks to the SILENT NETWORK solution, the backpack, and tactical radios are no longer needed. SILENT NETWORK makes use of low-emission PERAD personal radi- os, with a power output of 1W. It is also possible to place these radios in vehicular adapters. The average power requirement, from the power supply unit of a network node, is less than 7W. It may also be diminished even further, in radio silence. The WB Group's solution allows for establishing communications (also data and imagery transfer) also reducing the chance for detection of own forces. The system combines low power, and rapid frequency hopping over millisecond impulses. Thanks to the above, SILENT NETWORK is difficult to detect, the emitter location is also challenging, and the same goes for jamming with the use of the means of electronic warfare. The low emission power output would usually result in a short range, but this is compensated by the deployment of a single, or several radio nodes onboard UAVs. This allows for the re-transmission of data pack- ages sent from ground-based nodes. During the test program, it has been proven that the FlyEye UAV with a PERAD radio, flying several, to a couple of hundred meters AGL, and acting as a relay, can extend the effective range of communications between the individual network nodes to 20 kilometers. This makes it possible to establish battalion-lev- el radio communications. The system may make use of more UAVs - making the SILENT NET- WORK a scalable solution that may also allow for inter-battalion connec- tivity. This way, a quasi-SATCOM network, covering a vast area, is creat- ed. It is fully controlled by the user, it may also be deployed at any given time, wherever it pleases the user. Radio silence may be introduced at any given moment, and the system may be momentarily and completely disabled. Reboot only takes a few seconds. The use of UAVs allows the user to deploy SILENT NETWORK in any terrain. It is an IP network with voice communications capability (modes: conference, multiple group conversations, selective designation of inter- locutor), data, imagery, and movie, and also video transmission capabil- ity. The ground nodes may act as points of reference for the UAV if GPS spoofing or jamming is employed by the adversary. The system dynam- ically changes the communication frequency. Analysis of available RF spectrum is done on the fly. Any jamming or interference is detected automatically. Then, these interferences are eliminated from the usable frequency range and employed to establish the connectivity between the nodes. SILENT NETWORK can be enhanced with extra capabilities if the U-GATE Personal Command and Surveillance systems are connected. The user then gains access to maps, a messenger service, and localiza- tion capability. The system has an augmented reality system embedded, that overlays location data referring to the available network nodes onto a digital map. U-GATE works as binoculars, a digital compass, making it possible to direct loitering munitions, and artillery, also allowing the ZAAWANSOWANE TECHNOLOGIE