Advanced Warfare Environment serial-to-socket conversion program helps soldiers 'get the picture'

Army Communicator, Spring, 2003 by Tim Sellers, Marc Neely

Using IP as a means of transporting serial data overcomes all the limitations of traditional serial communications. It virtually extends any serial cable to the IP network's limit. When used with an internet (either secure or non-secure), the distance can extend around the world. At the same time, IP's use can be just as practical for moving serial data across a large C2 center. The ability to simultaneously run multiple instances of the program, coupled with its capability to function as a TCP server, allows multiple users to receive and process the same serial feed. The improvement to the SIAP's quality and consistency is significant, enabling the decision-maker to have the same picture as the shooter.

The 263d Army Air and Missile-Defense Command of the South Carolina Army National Guard recently conducted an operation in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, designed to demonstrate the ability to establish a SIAP and use it to accomplish the air-defense mission. The C2 headquarters, located in Guantanamo, received multiple, non-real-time air-picture feeds via the Global Command-and-Control System COP provided by Southern Command. Although vital for maintaining situation awareness, the constraints of these feeds made them virtually useless for air-defense missions. However, two sources of real-time air-picture data were also available. The Sentinel radar from 10th Mountain Division, along with air-picture data from the Joint Southern Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operation Center in Key West, Fla., were integrated into the COP to provide the real-time air picture.

The AWARE serial-to-socket conversion program played a key role in providing this data to the GCCS server. The program received air-picture data from both the Sentinel radar and JSSROC, and moved the data across the headquarters (about 500 feet) to the GCCS server for integration into the COP.

Also, AAMDC used the AWARE serial-to-socket conversion program to share SIAP data with its home station in Anderson, S.C. The program proved invaluable in providing the same view of the battle area in multiple locations separated by large distances (Figure 4).

[FIGURE 4 OMITTED]

Serial communications is rightfully the preferred method for transmitting air-picture data from sources to processors. Its simplicity, speed and reliability make it perfectly suited for the task. It does, however, suffer from limitations. These limitations can be overcome by using IP as an intermediary transport for serial data. The AWARE serial-to-socket conversion program provides a no-cost solution that can significantly enhance the way we receive and transmit this data, allowing immense improvements in the SIAP and air-defense assets' C2.

You may download this program using the Army Knowledge On-line knowledge center (document identification 85888). Send any comments or suggestions to Tim. Sellers@us.army.mil or marc.neely@smdc.army.mil.

ACRONYM QUICKSCAN

AAMDC--Army Air and Missile-Defense Command

ADP--air-defense plan

AWARE--Advanced Warfare Environment