Joint Tactical Radio System: A New Standard in Voice and Data Communication Capabilities for Defense & Aerospace
By Mark Vitellaro, Strategic Product Marketing Manager, Richardson RFPD

This article provides an overview of the features and performance of the Joint Tactical Radio System family of software-programmable, multi-band, multi-mode tactical radios using components available from Richardson RFPD.

The Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) is a transformational program of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) that focuses on the use of software-defined radio architecture to achieve flexibility, interoperability, and the ability to easily upgrade. The DoD’s ongoing goal with JTRS is to arm today’s soldier with superior and interoperable voice, data and video communications systems across the joint battlespace.

The JTRS program officially dates back to 1997, when the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), the DoD study that analyzes strategic objectives and potential military threats, identified the need for, and the benefits of, combining various individual service radio acquisition programs incorporating programmable software technology based on waveforms.

The single function hardware design of previous communications systems was not able to take advantage of the rapid changes in commercial technology and so could not provide the functionality and flexibility necessary to support the mobility required by today’s armed forces.

Examples of the need for the JTRS program can be found in the difficult lessons learned from inter-service communication problems during the invasion of Grenada in 1983, as well as Operation Desert Storm in 1990-1991. One frequently cited example of the communications problems was Army troops calling in air support during the Grenada operation by using their personal calling cards. In the case of Operation Desert Storm, U.S. Air Force computer assisted flight management systems were not interoperable with Navy communication systems, a situation which delayed delivery of crucial information to naval forces at sea.

The interoperability, flexibility and adaptability of software-programmable and hardware-configurable digital radio systems would therefore be key to supporting the varied mission requirements of today’s soldiers. The JTRS, then, is the basis for achieving network connectivity across the RF spectrum, and JTRS products will be leveraged by the DoD to shape long-term networking strategies.

JTRS Joint Program Executive Office
The JTRS Joint Program Office (JPO) was established to lead the JTRS effort. By 2001, the JTRS Operational Requirements Document had been approved, and the JTRS JPO had defined an open Software Communications Architecture (SCA) which would allow for military services and Homeland Security offices to define and acquire software-based radios. The SCA also facilitates acquisition efficiency, fosters the use of commercial off-the-shelf products, and promotes interoperability.

In 2005, the JTRS initiative was restructured under the leadership of a Joint Program Executive Office (JPEO) headquartered in San Diego, California. Using an enterprise acquisition and management approach, the JPEO JTRS has been successfully developing, producing, integrating and testing the JTRS networking capabilities.

The JPEO JTRS enterprise is delivering innovative technology that addresses the emerging needs of today’s soldiers via JTR systems in six official Acquisition Category (ACAT) programs:

• Network Enterprise Domain (NED)
• Ground Mobile Radios (GMR)
• Handheld Manpack & Small Form Fit (HMS)
• Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) JTRS
• Airborne, Maritime Fixed/Station (AMF)
• Handheld JTRS Enhanced Multi-Band Intra-Team Radio (JEM)

Within those ACATs, the JPEO JTRS enterprise has defined the SCA-compliant JTRS radios (per each given service’s needs) and is procuring SCA-compliant radios in sets, called “clusters,” that have similar requirements and fielding schedules.

Software waveforms developed for Cluster 1 included:

• Single Channel Ground/Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS)
• Enhanced SINCGARS Improved Product (ESIP)
• HAVE QUICK II
• Ultra High Frequency Demand Assigned Multiple Access (UHF DAMA)
• High Frequency Single Sideband with Application Link Enabling (HF SSB with ALE)
• Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS)
• Link-16
• Very High Frequency AM (VHF AM)
• Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW)
• All but the WNW replace existing legacy waveforms.

Flexibility, Interoperability, Easily Upgradable
The establishment and use of robust networks across the battlefield is key to future warfare. At the tactical level, the needed mobile RF networks must be flexible enough to rapidly form and seamlessly tie into joint, legacy and larger, static networks to send and receive critical information in data, voice and/or video formats.

One of the overarching missions of the JTRS program is to avoid creating an interoperability burden for soldiers, but instead be a driving force toward greater interoperability. By providing a family of interoperable radio sets capable of loading multiple waveforms, JTR systems support joint armed forces operations, including war and peacekeeping or humanitarian missions.

Finally, one of the major existing shortcomings that the JTRS program is intended to address is that most current tactical systems do not allow incremental or modular upgrades to increase the choices of waveforms and the bandwidths within those waveforms. JTRS capability will support upgrades to hardware and software in the field without needing to evacuate the JTRS sets or resulting in extensive delays that negatively impact operational abilities.

Waveforms
As referenced above, JTR systems are based on waveforms. A waveform is the representation of a signal that includes the frequency, modulation type, message format, and/or transmission system. In general usage, the term waveform refers to a known set of characteristics, for example, frequency bands (VHF, HF, or UHF), modulation techniques (FM, AM), message standards (Link-16), and transmission systems (SINCGARS, EPLRS, HAVE QUICK).

In JTRS context, the term waveform is used to describe the entire set of radio functions that occurs from the user input to the RF output and vice versa. Thus, a “JTRS waveform” is implemented as a reuseable, portable, executable software application that is independent of the JTRS operating system, middleware, and hardware.

JTRS sets began by operating with many legacy waveforms used by military and civilian agencies, with the idea being to incorporate new waveforms as they were developed.

JTRS at Richardson RFPD
As a specialty RF & Wireless distributor, Richardson RFPD supplies an extensive variety of RF and high performance analog components and solutions for military communication systems, including JTRS. The actual number and variety of products available are too numerous to provide here.

For that reason, Richardson RFPD has developed interactive block diagrams with smart filtering technology. These filters analyze the attributes of more than 50,000 items and select only those that are suited for that application. For more information, please go to
www.richardsonrfpd.com.

Conclusion
The interoperability, flexibility and adaptability of the Joint Tactical Radio System make it the new standard for achieving network connectivity across the RF spectrum and supporting the varied mission requirements of today’s soldiers.

What the JPEO JTRS enterprise is accomplishing today will fundamentally redefine the way communication occurs on the battlefields of the future. These products will provide the soldier with the agility and information needed to outmaneuver increasingly sophisticated adversaries and ultimately save lives.

Richardson RFPD supplies a broad array of components designed into a JTRS. Our range of suppliers combined with our design support allows designers to find the parts they need; interactive block diagrams with smart filtering allow the user to find products very efficiently.
For more information, please contact Richardson RFPD.

References
1. JTRS Operational Requirements Document (ORD), Version 3.2, JROCM 087-03, April 9, 2003.
2. GlobalSecurity.org (JTRS page).
3. JTRS Program Review & Product Brochure, 2010/2011.
4. Tactical Radio Operations Field Manual, Headquarters, U.S. Department of the Army, August 2009.

Richardson RFPD
www.richardsonrfpd.com
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