Modern advances to the Modular Fly-Away Kit (MFLAK) to support maritime interdiction operations

Abstract

This thesis will test the performance of an end-to-end network solution designed to augment Maritime Interdiction Operations that support boarding parties and their near real time communications with supporting agencies. The 802.16 point-to-point and point-to-multipoint Orthogonal Frequency Divisional Multiplexing (OFDM) shall be upgraded to reflect modern advances in 802.16. Additionally, there will be several enhancements to the peripherals associated with end user innovations and they will include: upgraded biometric devices, innovative camera solutions for near real time viewing, laptop support, airborne operations and communications devices for augmenting radio systems. Specifically, this thesis evaluates the enhanced effectiveness of implementing 802.16 networking equipment into the communications suite of several sea platforms. The test portions of this thesis will include laboratory specifications, bench test analysis and field experimentation done in partnership with the Cooperative Operations and Applied Science and Technology Studies (COASTS). COASTS is a combined Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore-Thailand-U.S. R and D effort to investigate commercial-off-theshelf (COTS) Command and Control, Communications Computers and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) technologies to provide real-time situational awareness (SA) for multi-national, tactical and remote decision makers in a cooperative environment. The capstone field experiment is conducted annually in May and June. COASTS-07 is the third iteration in the series and built on the successes and lessons learned from the 2005 and 2006 field experiments. In 2007, COASTS also employed some technologies into two major multi-national Pacific Fleet exercises, specifically US Pacific Fleet's exercise TALISMAN SABER 2007 with COMSEVENTHFLT in Australia during June 2007 and COMLOG WESTPAC's Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEACAT) 2007 exercise in Singapore during August 2007.