Resilient Architecture Design and Evaluation

The Resilient Architecture Design and Evaluation project conducts experimentation within an interconnected hybrid satellite communication (SATCOM) architecture to validate the performance, scalability and resilience of providing the Joint Force with multiple separate communications paths. To achieve these resiliency gains, the hybrid network requires 1) on-demand management of multi-band, multi-orbit DoW, allied and commercial data links; and 2) management and control capabilities to orchestrate paths through the space and ground networks. The effort validates the "Resilience by Design” approach in the Space Warfighting Analysis Center (SWAC) Space Data Transport Force Design recommendations through a combination of 1) modeling and simulation; 2) hardware- and software-in-the-loop analysis; and 3) terrestrial and on-orbit demonstration. The project leverages Hybrid SATCOM terminal prototyping in the Experimentation (Space) project along with direct relationships with commercial terrestrial and space data transport providers to demonstrate dynamic networking, understand commercial offerings, assess security and resiliency, and jump-start future acquisition approaches that enable a pivot to a more resilient architecture. In addition to creating an experimental hybrid space network to meet DoW's unique resiliency, security, and scalability needs for broadband transport, the effort also quantifies the suitability of commercial 5G Non-terrestrial Networks (NTN) and other frequencies for a subset of current Ultra High Frequency (UHF) users while prototyping next-gen UHF technologies for the core users who need to stay on UHF. This will provide improved capacity, performance, security, and resiliency for dismounted disadvantaged user. Finally, the effort looks to understand how such a hybrid space network can support mission services for multi-domain sensing, Positioning Navigation and Timing (PNT), and space control.