Solution Description:

It is essential for the DoD to have a reliable satellite network communication system, especially one that is secure against attack from peer adversaries. This system needs to be able to connect the next generation of warfighters, while ensuring resiliency and data security. Existing space-based communications assets supporting these needs currently utilize a bent-pipe architecture that leaves them vulnerable to potential adversaries’ anti-satellite (ASAT) capabilities. Furthermore, replacement costs and schedules for existing spacecraft platforms are excessively prohibitive, which reduces the ability to increase resiliency through quantity. Tethers Unlimited, Inc. (TUI) proposes to develop and demonstrate the 2nd generation of its “SWIFT-LINQ” secure small satellite mesh crosslink networking solution, building upon its existing 1st-generation mesh networking technology, which integrates onto its TRL-9 SWIFT Soft-ware Defined Radio (SDR) hardware. The proposed effort will advance the SWIFT-LINQ solution by integrating software-defined networking methods to provide adaptive routing capabilities and integrate high-frequency data links to support the high data throughputs (>1Gbps) required for future DoD space networks.