DoD Achieves Major Networking And Spectrum Management Enhancement Event

The Department of Defense's integrated Network Enhanced Telemetry (iNET) program office has completed development of the Telemetry Network System (TmNS) network architecture, a major event in the programs's effort to provide the DoD research test and evaluation community with new radio spectrum-enhancing technology.

With the completion of this achievement, the iNET program office will now develop TmNS standards for data link, ground and airborne networks. This phase, scheduled for completion in 2009, will include extensive tests of alternative spectrum-efficient technologies to facilitate development of these standards.

Once fully operational, the TmNS will provide wideband wireless capability with hundreds of square miles of coverage to DoD computer networks at DoD installations. As a result, the system will offer several significant enhancements to the department's test range management of its radio spectrum resource.

For example, through use of the TmNS, flight test centers will be able to dynamically adjust the spectrum required for test vehicles. Vehicles requiring a temporary increase in bandwidth will have that spectrum made available to them, while test vehicles temporarily requiring less bandwidth will have reduced throughput rates. In addition, test centers, program managers, and aircraft manufacturer personnel will be able to monitor tests from remote locations. This will help achieve greater efficiencies and cost-savings in test programs and test range operations.

A limited prototype system of the TmNS is projected to be operational by 2011, with initial operational capability will follow completion of full field testing of the prototype.

The TmNS high-poweruplink transmissions, which enable dynamic control of the spectrum resource, will be implemented in the 1435-1525 MHz and 2360-2390 MHz bands.