Systems of multifunction information distribution and for command, control and communications-C3

The areas where communication systems in support of command, control, and communications (C3) are used are indicated along with the fundamental characteristics of those systems. Presently, C3 systems heavily rely on voice transmission. The future data processing environment requirements demand highly sophisticated digital C3-systems. In this area the multifunction information distribution system (MIDS) is the best developed system concept. The different features a MIDS can offer to the user are described. These are information transmission, navigation, and identification. These features impose certain requirements upon the propagation path which result in limitations in frequency range, signal, and equipment design of the system. The joint tactical information distribution system (JTIDS) with both variants TDMA and DTDMA and the systeme integre d'identification, de navigation, de trafic control, d'anticollision, de communication (SINTAC) are described as representative examples of MIDS. The points emphasized are link protocols and hardware implementation. The capabilities of these systems are checked against user requirements and the limits within which these general requirements can be fulfilled are shown.