LGS Innovations Rapidly Deployable Network (RDN) is a compact and selfcontained 4G network-in-a-box.

It enables the quick, efficient deployment of secure,

reliable wireless broadband networks during critical situations and in the most remote
and demanding environments. A ready-when-needed system, RDN eliminates the
main technical and operational challenges associated with establishing broadband
wireless communication in locations where infrastructure does not exist or has been
compromised.
RDN is a fully rugged, man-portable system (approximately the size of a shoebox),
weighing about 10 kg (22 lbs.). It utilizes standards-based interfaces such as Ethernet
or WiMAX (IEEE 802.16e-2005), with a planned software upgrade path to LTE. The
bandwidth among RDN users is shared, so the type of application being used
determines the number of simultaneous connections. For example, the RDN can
accommodate up to 80 simultaneous VoIP calls.
With auto-configuration and dynamic, real-time optimization features, the RDN can
be fully operational in fewer than 10 minutes, and operates with minimal user
intervention. It can be deployed as a single-cell solution for local communications, or
multiple RDNs within range of each other can mesh together using IEEE 802.11,
creating an ad hoc network. When the power, WAN, and antenna connections have
been made, the unit self-configures with the push of a button and continually selfoptimizes.
Perfect for Tactical Communications
In addition to its ruggedized construction (temperature, shock, and vibration), RDN
support for the following makes it ideal for tactical military communications or
disaster response:
Advanced Encryption Standard 128 (AES-128) and AES256 encryption
Certification to Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 Level 2
Common Criteria for Information Technology Security Evaluation (CC)
Evaluation Assurance Level (EAL) 3+ compliant security
Eliminate the Challenges of Remote Wireless Network Deployments
The ability to rapidly, reliably, and securely access operational information is essential
for U.S. Federal Government missions. Without effective reliable communications,
remote personnel cannot maintain the vital link with headquarters personnel during
tactical engagements. In addition, todays remote government operations require more
than just basic voice service alone in order to ensure safety, efficiency, and the
effective use of resources. Government agencies must also leverage the capabilities of

video and advanced data applications for remote monitoring, surveillance, and
analysis.
Although traditional wireless technologies offer a way to establish and maintain basic
communications in support of command, control, and field activities, the majority of
wireless communications solutions take days to deploy, and lack a portable, integrated
wireless broadband network infrastructure. These obstacles make it difficult to
quickly and securely establish reliable communications links, and create limits where
coverage can be offered.
Flexible, On-Demand 4G
RDN provides mobile, flexible, and self-sufficient communication that adapts to any
situation, providing an enhanced command and control structure that contributes to
mission success. Government agencies use RDN to support command, control, and
field efforts during emergencies, disaster response, and tactical operations. The
system is completely self-contained, and incorporates functionality that would
normally
be
present
as
part
of
the
core
network,
including
authentication/authorization, home agent, domain name services, IP management,
transport of data, and embedded element management (EEM).
Mobile units can create a trusted network for secure, real-time mission-critical voice,
video, data, and sensor communications, delivering greater coverage and much
greater bandwidth than 3G wireless network solutions. A highly mobile force for
example, an advance party or patrol can use the RDN to quickly establish
communications and extend C4I into areas where communications do not exist or are
unsuitable for military use.
With power options of +12 V DC, +24 V DC, and -48 V DC, and power consumption
of less than 90 W 200 W with recommended radio frequency (RF) equipment the
RDN is well-suited for both semi-permanent and highly mobile environments that
have solar backup.
LTE infrastructure for today's military networks
HARRY JENSEN RADISYS CORPORATION
JEFF SHARPE RADISYS CORPORATION
COTS-based LTE products are cutting costs and increasing connectivity to improve
decision cycles on the battlefield.
7Modern Battlespace tactics, techniques, and procedures are changing. Today, more
than ever before, one of the most critical factors for military success is a robust, high-

throughput mobile communications network. The exchange of information, including

voice, video, and data communications among and between units, soldiers, and
commanders in the field is key. The speed at which this critical information is passed
is of the utmost importance; it can mean the difference between mission success and
failure, and life or death. The focus is on today's increasingly digital battlefields mission success and warfighter safety are dependent upon the robust transmission and
timely, tailored sharing of information. Enter LTE.
The critical need for reliable communication in a variety of Aerospace and Defense
(A&D) missions, applications, and environments is driving high-level military
officials to upgrade outdated and ineffective communications infrastructures with
modern Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) technologies, such as Long Term
Evolution (LTE) networks. LTE is a must-have technology for effective
communications to increase mission effectiveness and save lives.
Why COTS?
The United States Department of Defense (DoD) and military organizations
worldwide are increasingly moving away from proprietary, one-off, governmentunique systems that are expensive to build and maintain in favor of similar, and often
more advanced, systems readily available in the commercial marketplace at reduced
costs from a variety of vendors. A&D prime contractors can leverage COTS
technologies to meet the needs of their military organization customers, while reaping
the benefits of COTS. Readily available COTS solutions help speed time to market,
are easier to maintain, and offer extended system longevity when compared to
proprietary, government-unique systems. In addition, COTS communications
technologies, particularly the LTE standards-based architecture, are mature, proven
reliable and robust, easily deployable, and scalable.
Why LTE?
LTE, commonly called 4G LTE, is the enabling technology behind high-speed data
and communications networks and handheld communications devices such as
smartphones, tablets, and laptop computers, and other mobile devices. LTE is a
mature, industry-proven technology with years of investment and advancement in the
commercial market, and it provides numerous advantages for Battlespace
communications. LTE delivers higher speeds and lower latency than competing
technologies, such as the recently terminated Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS). The
all-IP network is standards based, allowing the military to take advantage of a large
ecosystem of vendors for the radio and core networks.
Figure1

Figure 1: Commercial LTE technology is quickly outpacing its proprietary

counterparts.
COTS solutions and systems based on LTE have proven themselves to be robust,
durable, and reliable reinforcing the A&D communitys desire to harness LTE in
industry-standard form factors such as AdvancedTCA (ATCA) and COM Express.
This translates to greater part availability, competitive pricing, and interoperability. In
addition, A&D contractors can leverage the broad availability of LTE smartphones in
the market, replacing the clunky and expensive handsets associated with legacy
military networks.
LTE is also fault tolerant, enabling the network to continue operating properly in the
event of a failure. With LTE deployed in the field, the loss of a node on the networkcentric battlefield will not shut down the entire network. LTE technologies support
failover, automatically switching to a redundant or standby hardware component upon
the failure of one or more components. Users can swap out failed system components
with readily available and inexpensive COTS hardware in the field. Similarly,
militaries can quickly and easily scale the LTE communications infrastructure, adding
COTS building blocks and expanding capacity on demand and as needed.
Building a Battlespace-ready LTE network: Three main components
Building an LTE network suitable for Battlespace communications is relatively easy
given the broad spectrum of capabilities currently available in todays marketplace. At
its core, a Battlespace-ready LTE network boasts three main components: the Radio
Access Network (RAN), Evolved Packet Core (EPC), and IP Media Subsystem
(IMS).
Figure2
Figure 2: Overview of LTE network components.
The RAN is the radio access technology that connects devices such as mobile phones,
computers, and remotely controlled machines to the Core Network (CN). The LTE
RAN, called eNodeB, handles the air/wireless interface and conversion from the User
Equipment (UE) to a wired network via an uplink, such as satellite or backhaul. The
eNodeB can be deployed in myriad configurations from base to vehicle to soldier.
The EPC is responsible for call routing and switching. It typically resides on a
centralized platform, either at a command center or on a mobile platform such as an
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) collocated with the eNodeB. The deployment
location of these LTE functional blocks depends on the military application
requirements and communication priorities.

The third component of the LTE network is the IP Media Subsystem (IMS), which is
the telecommunications industry standard for delivering and manipulating multimedia
applications on the network. The IMS consists of two parts: the Applications Server
(AS) responsible for hosting and executing services for the LTE network, and the
Media Resource Function (MRF) that provides capabilities such as media mixing. The
MRF also provides the computing power for driving continuous-presence 720p HD
multi-pane conferencing technology enabled by LTE networks.
Mobile phones and other wireless connected devices are varyingly known as User
Equipment (UE), Terminal Equipment (TE), or Mobile Station (MS). RAN
functionality is typically provided by a silicon chip residing in both the eNodeB and
the UE.
All these components fit together to make a cohesive, end-to-end LTE network that
vastly outperforms currently fielded military communications systems, hosting
numerous end-user devices. The network-centric Battlespace, in which personnel and
equipment are connected on a common, digital network, is the ideal scenario to
leverage LTE communications.
LTE: By air, sea, and land
The military can deploy LTE networks in the air, at sea, and on the ground, delivering
accurate, timely, and reliable mission-critical information when and where its needed
most.
In the air, the military can choose between two deployment scenarios to best meet
military application requirements and communication priorities. In one scenario, the
eNodeB can reside on a UAV flying overhead while the EPC core resides on a
centralized platform at the ground-based command center to deliver an ad-hoc
communications network. A single EPC can manage several nodes, each on a different
UAV, providing near-instant scalability to accommodate larger military units and
geographical areas.
In the second scenario, both the eNodeB and EPC can be hosted inside a UAV or
larger airborne military platform, delivering a complete LTE communications network
on a single aircraft. This combination delivers impressive low-latency, highbandwidth communications between soldiers as it eliminates latency associated with
the satellite link. However, fewer soldiers or video surveillance endpoints can be
accommodated.
Figure3
Figure 3: LTE deployment models.

Soldiers at sea can communicate on a single communications platform ship-wide

using smartphones and similar consumer-grade devices they rely on when off-duty.
Ship-wide and submarine-wide LTE communications networks based on highcapacity ATCA can support thousands of users as well as Push-To-Talk (PTT)
interactivity.
On the battlefield, an LTE network can leverage a small ATCA chassis or Rackmount
Server (RMS) to serve as a battlefield communications hub (LTE-in-a-Box) in a
Humvee shelter or Tactical Operations Center (TOC) Ground Control Station (GCS).
LTE network-enabled TOCs and Humvee shelters increase the flow of information
between commanders and personnel on the battlefield, bringing mission-critical
communications including texts, images, and video to the tactical edge.
Deployed soldiers can also carry compact, lightweight LTE communications nodes on
the COM Express form factor in their backpacks, enabling a single soldier to provide
all allies in range access to vital network Command, Control, Communications, and
Computers Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) resources. As
soldiers move in the Battlespace armed with backpack LTE nodes, they are actively
expanding the far-reaching, fault-tolerant, mesh network. Soldiers and unmanned
vehicles (robots) in the field can also be equipped with the latest in high-tech
wearable video equipment coupled with an LTE network to enable real-time, HD and
Full-Motion Video (FMV) information dissemination on-the-fly.
LTE in future military missions
Existing military networks are being quickly outpaced by their commercial
counterparts. Todays military personnel are accustomed to using smartphones
connected to commercial LTE networks in their personal lives, and they expect the
same, if not better, functionality in the field. The general consumer population has
greater power, information, and communications capabilities in their hands, via
smartphones and tablets, than do deployed soldiers. Deploying LTE technologies can
change that equation for the good of current and future military missions.
The time for the military to transition to LTE is now. Capable COTS communications
technologies are available from companies such as Radisys and ready to be adapted
for rapid insertion into the modern Battlespace and deliver capable communications to
warfighters. The battlefield is evolving, and the military can evolve with it by
adopting a robust and cost-effective COTS LTE solution. LTE delivers many benefits,
including fast speeds, rapid deployment, scalability, technology maturity, low cost,
and high reliability. Perhaps most importantly, the LTE standards-based architecture
can prove a powerful military tool, enabling rapid response to threats and leading to
mission successes and lives saved.