Due to the increased complexity of current and expected campaigns the need for a full NCW capability in the modern combat force is almost mandatory. This complexity is derived from two main scenarios: all out war with other nations and the asymmetric warfare with guerilla forces.
The first scenario is challenging due to the battle magnitude and due to the fact that the fighting is held against a well equipped & skillful adversary.
The second scenario is challenging due to the need to trace and destroy evasive, well concealed forces, often located in urban areas.
NCW is vital in both scenarios synchronizing large forces with increased lethality and survivability and enabling the “net of sensors” and shortening the decision cycle of tracking, identifying and destroying enemy forces.
Rafael is a leading C4I supplier for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and various worldwide forces. Rafael identified the emerging need for a comprehensive NCW infrastructure about a decade ago, following mission analysis, R&D efforts and successfully fielded systems. Rafael provides a unified, multi-spectral, secured, IP-based, communication and application suite, named Global Link.
The Global Link system by Rafael is a wideband communication system that fulfills today’s Network Centric Warfare communication requirements, and provides common data link connectivity for transferring tactical data of C4I applications.
The Global Link communication suite is built upon the following building blocks:
Global Voice & Data Link (GVDL)
The GVDL is a multi band, multifunction jam-resistant communication system designed to provide instantaneous high quality voice and high capacity data communication between aircraft (A/A) and ground terminals (A/G). GVDL is the most advanced communication system available today in the market.
Global Data Link (GDL)
The GDL provides the multiple high data rate channels for various services such as data, imagery and video.
C4I-Connect
The C4I-Connect solution optimizes the switching and distribution of real time (voice, data, video and radio) combat information received from tactical communication systems and sensors, and facilitates the making of real-time tactical and strategic decisions.
The overall solution enables an overall cost-effective distribution. Combining the three systems together and creating a high capacity and high availability robust infrastructure that supports the complexity of current and expected campaigns.
Advanced network algorithms, including automatic relays and built in quality of service provisions, ensure that data and voice are available for the user anywhere and anytime.
The links reliability and fast updates support critical applications, such as: effective sharing of airborne and ground targets and robust mid-air collision avoidance. The open IP based architecture supported by the C4Iconnect voice and data ground grid, offers the flexibility and growth for adding new airborne and ground based applications.
Global link provides a state of the art communication system, ensuring optimal spectrum utilization for a cost-effective and high resilience distribution of voice and data services for the entire force.
The high capacity and high availability of the systems, combined with an IP backbone, creates a robust and flexible infrastructure that is a required foundation for capability upgrading for the NCW challenges.
