The need for Ultra-Low Latency (ULL) communication over a wide area network (WAN) is a challenge for the military Modeling, Simulation and Training (MS&T) community. The ULL messaging service would allow for real-time training exercises in all live, virtual, and constructive (LVC) domains across geographic locations and also ensure centralized distribution of the mission critical data exchange.
Open standard communication allows for the use of a standard across the industry. These standards provide a larger user and developer base that can be supported by industry and academics. Open standards are normally maintained by industry, such as Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO), hence reducing the cost for the government to manage. It also allows for industry outside of the M&S to participate in supporting our warfighters to execute their primary objective.
Our initial research shows that the Synthetic Training Environment (STE) has been looking for a cost-effective, open standard communication to fill ‘Point of Need’ training. Utilizing ULL communication across a variety of networks, including WAN, tactical radio, satellite, WIFI, and (3G/4G/5G) cellular networks, along with non-IP and IP transports provides more network availability which allows for the warfighter to train at home station, operation station, and other points of need, anytime, anywhere.
This paper describes a modular and open communication architecture and its architectural components, a set of security methods implemented at different layers, as well as metrics collected by using a carefully designed testbed to demonstrate how the proposed solution can achieve the low latency communication over WAN for training at different physical locations. The proposed standard can work with existing MS&T standard such as DIS to break the geographical barrier for our soldiers in training. Our preliminary result indicates that ULL with an open standard provides a better understanding and new capability for sharing real-time critical battlefield information in legacy, current, and, future LVC training environments.