Connectivity and Increased Intelligence
In 1997, Ultra and Cubic Defense Applications (Cubic), USA, were awarded a UK MoD Data Link study to identify and/or develop a High Integrity Data Link (HIDL). The requirement was for the Command and Control (C2) of UAVs in response to a NATO Working Group (PG35) recommendation for Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Dual Data Link architecture to support TCDL. As a result of these NATO and UK MOD design studies, HIDL now forms the basis of a new NATO UAV Command and Control standard, STANAG 4660, a standard for an interoperable command and control data link (IC2DL) for UAS. The objectives of the STANAG are to provide: (1) a Command and Control (C2) uplink and telemetry downlink for multiple UAS; (2) a narrow band downlink for sensors such as Electro Optic or Infra Red cameras (e.g. still images from these sensors); and (3) a network enabled capability to support communication with multiple nodes.
HIDL is the High Integrity Data Link currently being put into service with the British Army’s WATCHKEEPER Tactical UAV programme. For WATCHKEEPER, HIDL acts as a Command and Control (C2) Data Link between multiple UAS’ and Control Stations. Additionally, HIDL has higher data rate functionality for applications such as supporting the increased data rate and low latency requirements of near real-time imagery. Relay functionality is also supported and allows over-the-horizon operation.
The HIDL system also provides Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) / Low Probability of Detection (LPD), jam resistance, and multipath immunity to ensure the C2 functionality is not compromised during operation in hostile environments.
Originally developed for UAS conjunction with Cubic, HIDL can be used to connect and maintain any system of multiple nodes, be they ground, air or sea based; combining network connectivity and cutting-edge LPD / LPI performance. Ultra continued to develop the HIDL, initially modelling the waveform, integrating it onto a Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) Software Defined Radio and carrying out integration of a crypto. These activities culminated in demonstrating the waveform 'Over the Air' in April of 2005.
Based on our tactical Data Link experience and the development of a win-win relationship lead to Cubic contracting Ultra to supply the Secure Ku Band, Fast Frequency Hopping, Narrow Band Data Link (NBDL) for the UK Ministry of Defence's Airborne Stand Off Radar (ASTOR) programme. A number of systems were built and integrated at our facility in the UK between 2001 and 2005.