Mission Support

Joint Capability for Airborne Networking

Wireless information connectivity and communication are essential in today’s modern age. Cell phones, PDAs, wireless laptops and pagers create a seamless information transport that supports the exchange of voice, text, imagery and other data in real time. However, current methods of communication are severely impacted or unavailable during our most urgent times of need. Under stressed environments that are either manmade (such as war) or natural (such as a hurricane), networked data communications with mobile platforms are not only problematic but often nonexistent.

The warfighter or first responder needs Decision Quality Information (DQI) at the right time and place. Limitations of our existing voice and data communications capabilities inhibit the ability to connect command and control players to the air, space and terrestrial assets seamlessly.

The Interim Capability for Airborne Networking (ICAN) capability transforms existing communication capabilities into a secure, self-forming, self-healing Internet-protocol-based network enabling the collection, fusion, delivery and presentation of DQI to the warfighter and first responder today.

The Joint Capability for Airborne Networking (JCAN) is the next-generation airborne networking capability that leverages the Air Force’s Interim Capability for Airborne Networking (ICAN) technology integrated with the Navy’s Automated Digital Network System capability to provide enhanced interoperability. JCAN extends the platform’s global mobility by integrating IPv6, Mobile IP and MANET protocols to enable dynamic, ad hoc addressing among mobile assets that may have different attachment points to the Global Information Grid.

JCAN will enhance the existing ICAN Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms with cross-layer optimization that will provide enhanced control of the data flow over the wireless links, as well as more real-time feedback on link performance. Enhanced QoS combined with content based routing mechanisms will enable JCAN to more effectively manage multiple data flow types over the collection of low and high bandwidth links.

JCAN will also support NATO standards such as STANAG 5056 to ensure communications interoperability among our coalition partners. JCAN is a standards-based mobile enterprise services capability that enables warfighters at the tactical edge to collaborate while also leveraging neighboring assets as needed to reach back or forward to C2 Centers and coalition partners using standard chat, e-mail, Web browser or mission specific applications.

In addition to applicability for military operators, JCAN has potential homeland security applications, particularly for first responders. JCAN can restore communications by supplementing damaged or disrupted infrastructure using relaying and “gatewaying” techniques. The result is improved command-and-control capabilities in degraded operating environments.