Digital Communications

PTARMIGAN

PTARMIGAN is the current mainstay of the Army's Tactical Trunk Communications System and provides fully secure digital communications throughout the battlefield and remains the envy of many of our allies. The system consists of a network of mobile digital exchanges connected by a variety of communications bearer systems including dedicated mobile multi-channel microwave radio relay, civilian and military satellite and public switched telephone networks. It provides the infrastructure communications for all Army field formation headquarters giving commanders and staff exceptional voice and data communications services.

PTARMIGAN has undergone a number of upgrades to be better prepared to meet the challenges of changing deployments and new operational requirements. This has included the introduction of an Air Portable Secondary Access Node (SAN) for 16th Air Assault Brigade. The General Purpose Trunk Access Port (GPTAP) software enhancement will soon allow improved Interconnectivity to other nations tactical systems.

An important sub-system of PTARMIGAN is the Single Channel Radio Access (SCRA). This provides isolated or mobile voice and data users with access to the full trunk system and all its facilities, in a similar manner to mobile phones. The modernisation of this part of the system is known as Mobile Access to the PTARMIGAN Packet Switch (MAPPS).

EUROMUX

The Racal EUROMUX system provides an area network similar in principle to PTARMIGAN. It is interoperable with the trunk systems of our NATO allies and is an example of the close co-operation between the Army and industry in using advanced, off-the-shelf technology to solve specific military requirements at short notice. Although it does not provide facilities as comprehensive as those of PTARMIGAN, it has proved itself to be a very versatile system for use in out of area operations and is currently being used extensively in Bosnia to provide various UK Headquarters with telephone services.

TRIFFID

The radio relay links for PTARMIGAN and EUROMUX are provided by Marconi's TRIFFID equipment. It has three interchangeable modules (known as 'heads' - hence the name 'TRIFFID') and provides links in the UHF band at 512Kbs with up to thirty-two digital channels.

CORMORANT

This exciting new system will deliver new capabilities to British Forces. CORMORANT uses Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) technology adapted for the military to deliver high tech equipment, quickly. Due in service with the field Army within a couple of years, CORMORANT will comprise two primary equipments. Firstly a local access component, based on an ATM switch, which will provide digital voice subscriber facilities and a high speed data LAN for over 20 Headquarters. A wide area component will allow the interconnection of these Headquarters, on a 'backbone' communications network across a large geographical area as well as the means to interconnect with single service and multinational systems. Interconnection of components will be possible using microwave radio relay, satellite communications, commercial cable bearers and a new Tropo-Scatter 'over the horizon' capability. CORMORANT will also provide a limited mobile secure voice capability and a comprehensive communications network management system.

FALCON

FALCON is a replacement communications system for PTARMIGAN still in the early process of project definition. It will build on the lessons learned from CORMORANT to deliver an area communications system to meet the needs of the Army well into the 21st Century.

PROMINA

The Net.Com PROMINA networks uses Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) technology, adapted for the military, to deliver PCM and Compressed digital voice (CAS & ISDN), analogue voice, Video Conferencing, IP (Cisco IOS), Frame Relay, ATM and legacy Synchronous and Asynchronous data services efficiently and reliably over satellite, microwave, radio and leased line services. It is extensively used to multiplex PTARMIGAN, ATacCS, and JOCS, etc systems along side traditional voice, video and fax services over a common bearer. The PROMINA's ease of use and flexibility enable it to quickly adapt to the changing environment whilst deployed, to accommodate the demands of modern warfare. PROMINA networks form the core for the likes of NATO and PJHQ, and are deployable for rapid reaction corps. e.g. ARRC, USAF. As it is the standard for digital communications in NATO and US forces it offers un-paralleled interoperability with a proven track record.