HF wideband

National HF backbone

HF backbone networks are a backup for existing SATCOM networks and stand-alone systems in certain operations or theaters.

The backbone service provides HF communications to all defense ministries and defense departments, government departments, worldwide embassy networks and Partnership for Peace members.

It allows real-time strategic communications between ground stations, submarines, surface vessels, fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. A national HF backbone network requires minimal infrastructure and can communicate over long distances.

Typical HF backbone services include analog voice communications traffic (telephone patches) and digital communications traffic, such as digital voice (secure and non-secure), IP communications such as chat, email and HTTP exchanges, military messaging, application data and tactical data links (TDL) (Link 22; pictures and video).

Use cases include maritime patrols and repositioning, routine flight activities and humanitarian assistance and disaster response:

• Intelligence links between maritime patrol aircraft and terrestrial command and support elements.
• Repositioning activities for navy platforms, including meteorological and command data.
• Establish source of real-time command and intelligence communications.
• Provision of traffic, positioning, and navigation information and assistance.
• Carrying emergency action messages.
• Army aviation support for aeromedical evacuation.

In customs and border protection a national HF backbone helps:

• Protect borders: A long-range border protection communications network can help inspect containers at sea, intercept suspicious vessels and patrol borders.
• Ensure disaster resilience: A reliable emergency response communications network can help with real-time assessments and requests for necessary resources.
• Enhance security: A secure communications network can help share intelligence between air, land, and sea assets to identify and pursue threats.

Ship-Shore-Ship Buffer (SSSB)

A real-time data link buffer system for data-exchange

The Ship-Shore-Ship Buffer (SSSB) is a real-time data link buffer system for exchanging data among naval forces, including airborne assets and associated units in the air defense ground environment. SSSB functions include data transmission and forwarding on multiple national and NATO data links including Link 1, Link 11, Link 11B and (in the future) Link 22. The SSSB generates a real-time common operational overview for air, surface and sub-surface elements.

The SSSB can support the exchange of information through NATO data links and is part of the command, control and intelligence (C3I) scenario between NATO and national armed forces.

Link 22 or NATO Improved Link Eleven (NILE) is a communications standard for tactical data links. During missions, Link 22 improves information distribution, relative navigation and identification capability to support tactical command and control among alliance members and with members of other alliances.

Link 22 can be employed in the HF range (2-30MHz) and UHF range (225-400 MHz). UHF is used for line-of-sight (LOS) communications, HF for links of up to 1,000 nm (1,852 km). Fixed-frequency modes as well as EPM (ECCM) modes are defined for both HF and UHF.

Various tests have been carried out with Rohde & Schwarz equipment in Germany, Finland and France. The tests demonstrated that software defined radios in the Rohde & Schwarz M3SR family – including R&S Series 4100 HF radios and R&S Series 4400 UHF radios – runs smoothly with all currently available Link 22 modems. Legacy and deployed radios can be upgraded to support the new tactical data link and safeguard customer investments.

Rohde & Schwarz participates in many international Link 22 conferences, workshops and demonstrations, contributes actively toward the optimization and standardization of the new tactical data link and provides input to various NATO working groups.