Tactical network demonstration with free space lasercomm

H. R. Burris; M. S. Ferraro; W. Freeman; P. G. Goetz; R. Mahon; C. I. Moore; J. L. Murphy; J. Overfield; W. S. Rabinovich; W. R. Smith; M. R. Suite; L. M. Thomas; B. B. Xu

doi:10.1117/12.879476

21 February 2011 Tactical network demonstration with free space lasercomm

H. R. Burris, M. S. Ferraro, W. Freeman, P. G. Goetz, R. Mahon, C. I. Moore, J. L. Murphy, J. Overfield, W. S. Rabinovich, W. R. Smith, M. R. Suite, L. M. Thomas, B. B. Xu

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7923, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies XXIII; 792305 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.879476
Event: SPIE LASE, 2011, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

As military sensors and systems become more sophisticated, tactical situations will require reliable, high data rate communications. The current RF communication systems are increasingly competing for the limited amount of RF spectrum and bandwidth. One possible way to augment the current RF communication systems is by the use of free space lasercomm in tactical networks for links in which direct line of sight is possible. Free space lasercomm has been demonstrated over horizontal distances greater than 10 nautical miles and at data rates greater than 1 gigabit/sec. Lasercomm links do not require any RF frequency allocation, nor do they have an RF signature. They are inherently low probability of intercept and detection and they are very difficult to jam due to the very narrow divergence of the communication beams and the very narrow acceptance angle of the receivers.^1-6 The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory has demonstrated the use of free space lasercomm in tactical networks at Trident Spectre 2009 and Empire Challenge 2010. This paper will discuss these lasercomm demonstrations and present packet error rate test data captured at both.

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H. R. Burris, M. S. Ferraro, W. Freeman, P. G. Goetz, R. Mahon, C. I. Moore, J. L. Murphy, J. Overfield, W. S. Rabinovich, W. R. Smith, M. R. Suite, L. M. Thomas, and B. B. Xu "Tactical network demonstration with free space lasercomm", Proc. SPIE 7923, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies XXIII, 792305 (21 February 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.879476

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