High-altitude UAV-based military communications services

The development of high-altitude, long-endurance Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) provides a platform for communications equipment that can relay signals over a wide area. A recent ARPA study examined the military utility of such a UAV Communications Node (UCN) on board the Tier 2+ UAV. Communications needs were identified for contingency military operations that could work with existing military equipment to provide beyond lineof-sight relay, reach-back communications out of theater, and gateways between dissimilar equipment Services using new ground equipment were also identified. Implementation techniques are described for these various services, along with benefits to the users and technical challenges to be met The ARPA study concluded that a very useful communiction payload can be put on the Tier 2+ UAV, and that there are very good reasons for pursuing such a development program.