Architecture for a Demonstration Radar-Communication Link

For the best surveillance picture, surveillance data from sources on different platforms should be combined. This requires a robust communication capability for transferring both raw sensor data and processed track data between platforms. A communication system can be built using existing radar transmitters and antennas. This report describes a communications architecture and associated programs used in a demonstration of such a system. The system outlined controls the interfacing of the communication and radar functions, controls system timing, and provides framing of messages and various levels of error control. The services provided by this architecture allow the communication link to be used by client systems with only minimal concern with the details of the links operation. A brief description of possibly useful extensions to the system is included.