Defence spectrum use Changing technologies and applications CAPT Paul Scott, RAN Chief Information Officer Group Department of Defence

Chief Information Officer Group Overview Chief Information Officer Group Organisation Defence spectrum requirements Defence spectrum sharing Challenges for Defence International experience Conclusions

Chief Information Officer Group ICT Operations Division Responsible for delivery of the Defence Single Information Environment: –global end to end capability including the provision of: satellite communications electromagnetic spectrum networks to support military operations

Chief Information Officer Group Defence need for spectrum Sensors –Threat detection requirements –Increased use in battlespace (e.g. Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar C-RAM mission) Communications –Voice, Data and Video (e.g. UAV impact) –Network Centric Warfare Weapons –Force Protection –Increased use in battlespace (e.g. Counter-Improvised Explosive Device C- IED) –Spectrum dominance; at Defence’s time, place and frequency of choice

Chief Information Officer Group Defence White Paper Electronic Warfare (EW) “8.16 Understanding, controlling and shaping the electromagnetic spectrum has become increasingly important to winning on the modern battlefield. Advanced systems will provide improved protection and advantages for our forces by jamming, suppressing or otherwise denying an adversary the full use of the electromagnetic spectrum.” –Defence White Paper 2013, page 77

Chief Information Officer Group Air F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) –Fifth generation fighter –Advanced electronic warfare capabilities –Highly advanced Communication, Navigation and Identification (CNI) suite –Active, Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar enables sophisticated electronic attack capabilities allows F-35 to operate without dedicated electronic attack aircraft support

Chief Information Officer Group Air –Advanced Data Links high-data-rate, directional comms link can serve as a communications gateway for various other platforms (eg providing shared operational picture) –Sophisticated usage of EM spectrum –Software-Defined Radio (SDR) technology reduced hardware requirements highly configurable

Chief Information Officer Group Sea S-band phased array radar –AN/SPY-1D(V) – Air Warfare Destroyer –CEAFAR – ANZAC Class (FFH) Frigate Anti-Ship Missile Defence Upgrade High power, medium to long range surveillance Radars provide –air defence for: accompanying ships land forces infrastructure in coastal areas –self-protection against missiles and aircraft

Chief Information Officer Group Land Radios developed under the US Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) program being introduced into the ADF –Software-defined –Wide tuning range –Can be reconfigured to support different modulation and coding schemes (waveforms) For example: Harris AN/PRC-117G –30–2,000 MHz –Applications Narrowband voice Streaming video eg from UAV Narrowband satcom Text messaging

Chief Information Officer Group Military VHF MHz Military UHF MHz GHz GHz 3.5 GHz TV S-Band Radar L-Band Radar Wi Fi Radio TV Telemetry GPS Link-16 Defence Licensed Defence shares with other users Mobile Phones / Wireless Broadband Broadcasting Other Civilian Uses Sharing is a reality

Chief Information Officer Group Future developments Major Defence capability systems designed to be in- service for 30 years or more –Mid-life upgrades are often difficult and costly –Contrasts with modern commercial communications technologies which can see generational change every 5 years Conventional capabilities remain vital and will require ongoing access to spectrum –HF communications –VHF combat-net radios –Aeronautical navigation systems and radars –X and Ka-band SATCOM Defence systems will increasingly leverage commercial technologies, but will continue to lead where required by military-specific applications

Chief Information Officer Group International comparisons Similar challenges faced by militaries worldwide Australia shares similarities with US and UK; however there are important differences: –Key bands for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) 2.3 GHz 3.5 GHz –US, UK militaries have significant access –In Australia, Defence has no special access rights – these bands have been available for IMT for many years Creates challenges for Defence requirements to access spectrum in the 2–4 GHz “sweet spot” for applications such as –UAV data links –Video –Telemetry Spectrum sharing innovations are a focus for organisations such the US Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency (DARPA) – –But the leap from proof of concept to in-service in the US, let alone the ADF can be extremely difficult

Chief Information Officer Group Conclusions Defence spectrum requirements are growing –New technologies and requirements for data exchange eg JSF –Capability upgrades and interoperability requirements driving ADF closer to allies in terms of spectrum requirements US in particular Sharing isn’t easy –Requires More detailed data on requirements and use Additional management overhead –Defence is working to build its spectrum management capabilities Increases resilience of ADF capability May open opportunities for sharing –Can not rely on technology alone Spectrum regulatory framework will need to evolve to facilitate greater levels of sharing Cooperation necessary to ensure access meets the requirements of all users