CenGen has supported numerous Office of Naval Research, Naval Research, and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency over the last three years in this area including ONR’s Littoral Combat Future Naval Capability and Code 30 in support of Expeditionary Warfare and Combating Terrorism S&T departments under Secure Contract N0014-03-C-0180-Secure Mobile Wireless Networks, and Contract N0014-03-C-0353-Advanced Marine Corps Communications R&D.
The focus of these efforts was specifically to introduce secure wireless connectivity into the Marine Corps to address short range, Type 1 secure, wireless LAN connectivity challenges. This effort addressed a broad class of potential approaches to meet the requirements of user mobility within a local environment, as well as, providing vehicle connectivity within that local environment to provide access to gateways that are communicating to higher echelons (JTRS, TACSAT).
CenGen achieved the following: Created a highly mobile and reliable On-The-Move (OTM), Over-The-Horizon (OTH) connectivity between multiple, geographically isolated and mobile tactical radio networks, addressing the concern for the Line of Sight (LOS) limitations of the Marine Corps tactical data radio system; Provided proof of concept development for Type 1 Mobile Secure enhancements in support of JECCS, UOC, EFV, ForceNet, and D-DACT; Supported fielding/limited user evaluation (LUE) efforts to address the most critical shortcoming and provide recommendations to enhance seamless mobility and reduce configuration requirements for users; Optimization of the data to effectively utilize existing and emerging tactical data radios; Integration of on-the-move SATCOM capabilities into the CONDOR architecture; UAV relay testing support and inclusion in CONDOR architecture spirals, Engineering Data Models (EDM) Development; Developed optimized techniques to support CONDOR Gateways (GW)/POPV/CONDOR Army network optimization; Demonstrated a Type 1 Secure IP system for ship-to-shore communication while under way to relive on board satcom communications requirement between ships in a battlegroup. IP services were provided to VoIP telephones, computers, VTC suite and the DSSS Aegis battle simulation system. Service was provided for two sites that were approximately 6.5 miles apart as an alternative for battle group communications.
CenGen has established itself as a leader in engineering, systems integration and systems engineering as it relates to secure mobile tactical communications systems. While CenGen demonstrated the STOM Bridge proof of concept through an ONR contract which ultimately became the USMC CONDOR Program of Record, the CONDOR capability set needed to be enhanced in an operationally relevant environment and its capabilities enhanced.
CenGen achieved the following: Characterized a wide range of legacy, tactical voice and data radios, and their capabilities to enhance seamless mobility and reduce configuration requirements related to the CONDOR Point-of-Presence-Vehicle (PoP-V); Provided IP Data Communications to legacy Tactical Data Radios using Situational Awareness and Command and Control Applications; Demonstrated seamless mobility in communications by integrating significant numbers of tactical radios into surrogate POP-Vs, and integration of OTM or ATQH tactical and satellite communication capabilities; Evaluated the benefit of TCP Enhancing Proxies in a Tactical Network with High Latency transport links and Type 1 HAIPE Encryption; Demonstrated the integrated Joint Communications Architecture; various Ku OTM systems, Iridium, Globalstar, EPLRS Micro Lights, and various SATCOM modulation schemes for CONDOR; and seamless mobility in communications by integrating significant numbers of tactical radios into surrogate PoP-Vs, and integration of OTM or ATQH tactical and satellite communication capabilities; Provided TCP Large Window support to keep the network pipe full during bulk transfer; Provided follow-on support to the II MEF 09 ~ 18 June 05 training in Iraq and technical support for the CONDOR Gateway Field User Evaluation 1 (FUE-1); Supported an Army CONDOR variant Gateway (GW) integrated with US Army EPLRS and Force XXI Battle Command & Below (FBCB2) equipment and software at CTSF, Ft. Hood utilizing SPAWAR built CONDOR Gateways to address JROCM 161 initiatives; Provided support to the II MEF 09 ~ 18 June 05 training in Iraq and technical support for the CONDOR Gateway Field User Evaluation 1.
CenGen has developed and supported network emulation models and simulation that are scalable, versatile, and realistic. These laboratory-based emulation suites for programs with NRL, DARPA, and U.S. Army CERDEC include distributed execution and control to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of emerging tactical technologies that have been designed for various homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. By providing the realism of hardware-based systems at both the application and transport layers, our support in this area gives necessary data and insights during the R&D and the evaluation phases to ensure technology is mature and ready for field experimentation and deployment.
Our emulation laboratory capabilities and analysis support provides a rich set of features to support research, development, and evaluation of applications like Information Assurance solutions, MANET routing protocols, network coding algorithms, and reliability algorithms for multi-media applications (SA, chat, video, voice).
CenGen accomplished a number of high-risk challenges through the Tactical Automated Intrusion Detection Response (TAIDR) program: Created and validated a physical replication of the MANET environment; Defined metrics and methodology to assess various IA approaches in military, mobile environments (First to use application utility as metric); Developed an automated testbed control mechanism to enable effective testing of varied approaches; Developed well defined IA experimentation process and methodology that has proven highly effective in determining whether or not IA technology performance meets expected customer requirements and/or Go/No Go criteria for these programs; Developed real-time applications to automate testing, data collection, and analysis; Developed a test range that can be reconstituted quickly and which addresses the significant differences between mobile military networks and the wired internet that is the basis of current state-of-the-art modeling and simulation environments.
CenGen has fabricated and tested mock ups, full scale prototypes and R&D test tools for numerous programs including ONR Secure Mobile Networks, Naval Research laboratory, CERDEC SRW, FCS Communications, Boeing Voice Over IP, CONDOR, FCS TAIDR and DARPA Heterogeneous Communications Network (HCN). CenGen led the system architecture and trade-off efforts related to selection of hardware and software components used in the full scale model of a 400 node mobile ad hoc test range. CenGen built the model and ensured all subsystems worked properly together and that the system achieved its performance goals. We also built a 72 node hardware testbed prior to FCS TAIDR for the Naval Research laboratory and DARPA for the Defense Against Cyber Attacks (DCA MANET) program. In addition, we have prototyped radomes for aircraft testing of satcom antennas and for testing of other communications equipment on aircraft for DARPA FCS and HCN communications program.
Furthermore, our intimacy with communications gateway systems, have allowed us to integrate and fabricate COTS components with GOTS components into full scale gateway models for testing and evaluation. We have fabricated Engineering Development model gateways for USMC CONDOR and ONR Secure Mobile Networks.
Under the DARPA HCN Contract, CenGen built six (6) prototype High Bandwidth Communications on the move gateway units for Operational Testing in partnership with DARPA and SOCOM.
CenGen has supported system design documentation and technical data support necessary to support system development for numerous programs. These have included characterization of tactical data radio including test plan and documentation of radio performance for USMC CONDOR, design documentation and technical data packages, quick reference reports, maintenance/training Package and migration plan for IPv6 for a SOCOM dismounted user program. CenGen has also assisted with the definition of metrics, post processed and provided technical data in both paper and electronic format to objectively support system development for numerous programs including NRL/DARPA DCA MANET and DARPA IA MANET programs.
CenGen has supported technical development of software such as C2PC through the USMC program and Command Post of The Future (CPOF) through DARPA FCS Communications program. In addition, we have modified or develop applications such as Situational Awareness, Voice, Logistics, CHAT, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), and Time Critical Strike-type (Call for Fire) functionality to enable each to function in systems or subsystems on all past performance contracts in Table A or reference in this document. We are providing tools such as real and simulated traffic generators, and analysis tools; custom instrumentation based on customer requirements and Subject Matter Expertise support for tactical applications including, but not limited to C2PC, FBCB2, CPoF, FalconView, IRC Chat, etc. As a subcontractor to ITT, CenGen currently supports development of the Extendable Mobile Ad-Hoc Network Emulator (EMANE) for the Naval Research Laboratory.
CenGen has conducted Information Assurance analyses and testing that are outside the cognizance of NMCI for DARPA’s DCA MANET, IA MANET and US Army FCS TAIDR to effectively assess IA solutions developed by Performers like BBN, BAE, JHU/APL, Telcordia/SPARTA, Raytheon, etc. IA in mobile networks has different challenges than those faced by conventional infrastructure networks. Mobility introduces new targets that need defense as the mobile network, node location, motion pattern, traffic pattern, routes, and network topology all become vulnerable bringing in new security challenges in addition to traditional security issues. Furthermore, tether less mobility, which requires multi-hop ad-hoc routing in a wireless medium, is open to anyone within transmission range and is, therefore, vulnerable to attacks, which poses new challenges to network centric security. DoD’s need is a superset that includes the civilian needs, thus a viable solution for DoD needs will be a solution for the internet as well. CenGen supports IA solutions for warfighters and national security and is very familiar with Information Assurance testing. Consequently, we have developed programs and procedures that make it very difficult for information to spill over into another test. Our ability to make and break secure internet connections to the laboratory testbed is significant.
CenGen has been dedicated to the idea that realistic testing is essential in the development of network solutions for tactical deployment. We have the engineering expertise to stand up and integrate highly mobile, complex, large scale networks (50+ nodes) over a large operational area (100 km x 100 km) consisting of dismount, vehicular, and airborne platforms. Our live field test capabilities provide the ability to evaluate operational hardware and software in tactically relevant environments to support fielding.
CenGen has a very strong track record of fielding, demonstrating systems and analyzing network performance, as well as setting up testing environments that allow contractor teams opportunities to test their systems in a realistic environment. CenGen’s history of Testing and Demonstration support includes: Office of Naval Research Extending the Littoral Battlespace ACTD), JWID, FORCENET, FEDOS, Trident Warrior, CERDEC Unattended Airborne and Ground Vehicle Communications Networks (UAGNET) SLICE SRW Technical Field Test, U.S. Army AMCOM Non-Line of Sight (NLOS) Launch System (LS) test, FCS Lead System Integrator (Boeing) Scalable Mobile Network Demonstration as well as numerous DARPA test efforts including PerceptOR, LANdroids, Grand Challenge, FCS Communications, Boomerang etc.
Under the USMC CONDOR program of Record, CenGen provided technical training support to the II MEF 09 ~ 18 June 05 training in Iraq and technical support for the CONDOR Gateway Field User Evaluation 1 (FUE-1). In addition, for the DARPA Network Centric program, CenGen personnel trained US Army Signal Corps Soldiers to use this Network Centric System and their success demonstrated the ease of use of the applications, such as CPoF, C2PC, Video, Network Management, and CHAT; and the hardware such as tactical radios from Raytheon, ITT, and Harris; the Routers, etc.