The Army Operations warfighting concept includes a need for reliable tactical communications worldwide. A line-of-sight (LOS) propagation reliability working group, convened by the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, has developed a propagation reliability model that relates the reliability of an LOS link to path length, radio frequency, equipment capability, and geophysical and meteorological variables. The geophysical and meteorological variables are described in terms of a climate factor. The importance of climate on the reliability of communications links has been amply demonstrated by experience in Southwest Asia. The propagation reliability model has been incorporated in a new battlefield automated system, the Joint Tactical Area Communications Systems (Provisional) Network Planning Terminal (NPT). The NPT provides the U.S. Army with new capabilities for network planning and management, frequency management, communications engineering, and electronic warfare threat analysis of LOS tactical communications links for deployment anywhere in the world.
The Network Planning Terminal (NPT) is a new battlefield automated system designed to efficiently integrate network planning and management, frequency management, communications engineering, andelectronic warfarethreatanalysis for the Army's Mobile Subscriber Equipment . The NPT program is managed by Program Manager, Joint Tactical Area Communications Systems (Provisional). The development team includes the Electromagnetic Compatibility Analysis Center (ECAC) and the Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM). ECAC is responsible for systems integration, while ECAC and CECOM share the responsibility for hardware acquisition and software development. Fielding of the NPI' is imminent. This paper provides a functional description of the NPT and describes both the teamwork between intemal Government organizations and the systems integration process that resulted in the success of the NPT program. This success highlights the power of Total Quality Management based working groups, the involvement of soldiers, and the cooperative efforts of RD&E programs within the CECOM Research, Development and Engineering CenterandECACthathaveprovidedthe baselinem product that fits the available resources of the Program Manager. Companion papers describe some of the technical aspects of NPT. This paper serves as an introduction to three other MILCOM '93 papers. One describes the contribution of the MSE System Performance Model to the network planning portion of the NPT [ 13; another describes the path reliability model incorporated in the NPT [2]; and the last describes the development of the climate factor parameter that is critical to the path reliability model [3]. NPT DescriptionThe MSE NPT is a new battlefield automated system that provides major advances in communications engineering and network planning capabilities. Included in the NPT are threat and 874 U.S. Government work not protected by U.S. copyright
A line-of-sight propagation reliability working group, convened by the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, has developed a propagation reliability model. The model includes a climate factor for fading to allow worldwide planning of reliable terrestrial communications links.This paper introduces a new application concept, a monthly climate factor, to meet tactical needs since the probability of fading can vary significantly from month to month. Climate factor estimation is described and illustrated with examples from the Arabian peninsula. The propagation reliability model, including monthly climate factors, has been incorporated in a new battlefield automated radio planning system, the Joint Tactical Area Communications Systems (Provisional) Network Planning Terminal.
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