The frequency spectrum interference in military training areas is disrupting the communications, sense-making, and coordinated operations. The US DoD addresses the frequency spectrum interference and improves communications. Let’s see what the US DoD has been doing to address this issue and how it affects the training areas.
For national security and to improve the military mission capabilities, it’s important to have the proper training and testing of equipment. The defense department has focused on military mission readiness for a long time while protecting the environment.
Now, the federal agencies and defense authorities have decided to impose another interruption to the training areas, that is, the Frequency spectrum interference. The interference can cause issues with the mission communications, effectiveness, and safety.
How does Frequency spectrum interference happen in training areas?
The military training involves numerous high-tech military and commercial communication devices that transmit radio frequency signals. The major frequency spectrum interference in the training areas is:
- Co-site interference:
- When a large number of RF transmitters and antennas are operating close to each other, unintentional interference can happen and create issues with communications.
- The interruption can interrupt the system or cause interference to the other’s signals and affect the training.
- Warfare jamming:
- During military training, the authorities intentionally use Electronic Warfare jamming to interrupt communications to teach the armed forces and prepare them for any such situations.
- Civil Signals overlapping:
- Sometimes the military training areas are near civilian properties or infrastructure, which can cause interruptions with civil radio signals, 5G networks.
- The expansion of civil networks has affected the communication in training areas with urban development.
- Spectrum management:
- The electromagnetic spectrum’s poor management has affected communications, radar, surveillance, navigation, and unmanned systems.
- The DoD also shares the RF spectrum with other commercial users; however, with increasing demand, the adjacent frequency bands can create issues.
What are the strategies to deal with frequency spectrum interference?
To deal with frequency spectrum interference, the defense department has followed or is following the following strategy:
- Spectrum monitoring:
- The military installations are using tools for RF spectrum monitoring and detecting issues around the training areas to determine the cause of interference.
- The monitoring will point out the geolocation of unwanted interference and help the authority identify it.
- Spectrum Planning and Management:
- The department has taken efforts to enhance the US military’s ability to control, communicate, test, command, protect, and access the electromagnetic spectrum.
- Advanced technologies:
- The department is focusing on using advanced technologies and equipment to make the spectrum system compatible and highly tolerant to external signals.
- The department is now shifting to use AI and automated Dynamic Spectrum Access for better communications and enhancing the RF spectrum.
- Training:
- The electromagnetic spectrum operations enhancement includes proper training for the personnel to manage and operate the congested RF system and use the tools for effective operations.
What are DoD programs and initiatives to address the frequency spectrum interference?
Let’s see the program and initiatives taken to address the frequency spectrum interference in the training areas:
- Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority Strategy:
- The DoD is shifting from traditional electromagnetic warfare to unified treatment of activities as EMSO (Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations).
- The DoD focuses on developing superior EMS capabilities, a fully integrated EMS infrastructure, an agile system, EMS readiness, and secure partnerships between stakeholders.
- SMART:
- The Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)initiated the Spectrum Monitoring and Awareness in Real-time to develop advanced capabilities for the RF spectrum.
- The program will focus on SDR technology to optimize the warfare capabilities with RF bandwidth solutions, POL technical capability, and others.
- Partnership with industry academia:
- The DoD partners with industry, academia five selected lead organizations to study the spectrum sharing, test, and develop the technologies that can allow military and commercial users to operate within the same spectrum band.
- Tested AI-powered Spectrum management:
- The DoD tested a new AI-powered spectrum management technology to improve the system and make communication better than ever.
- The prototype was tested at Aerial Combat training ranges and works on the issues of EMS congestion and growing concern over the other countries’ hacking or affecting the sensemaking.
What is happening with the spectrum fight between commercial and DoD?
The mid-band spectrum issue has gained momentum recently, where the conflict has risen between the commercial industry and the US DoD. The driving tension comes from the commercial industry demand for exclusive access to mid-band spectrum for 5G and future networks.
The DoD uses the spectrum for now for communications, radar, and electronic warfare. The FCC has pushed for auctions to reallocate these bands to private carriers, but DoD warns about the national security risks of these steps.
The Trump administration has not taken its stand on this matter, but the meeting on 13 February of the Department of Commerce’s NITA may come up with some solutions.
The US DoD has taken measures to deal with frequency spectrum interference around the training areas for better mission and military operations, from technology to partnership.
