by Lenny Krawczyk, a Senior Ciena Solutions Architect at C1 Gov specializing in government solutions

Coherent optical technologies  help tackle these challenges by boosting communication systems’ capacity, security, and efficiency. This article delves into the benefits of adopting 100G, 400G, and 800G technologies within the Air Force and Space Force.

These innovations promise to fortify their communication infrastructure, ultimately elevating efficacy, and strategic versatility. By examining these innovations, we uncover how these advancements can underpin various applications, from on-the-ground tactical operations to worldwide surveillance and space-based communications. This ensures that these vital pillars of defense maintain an edge in information superiority and operational readiness.

Optical Technologies at Play

The rise of warfare, coupled with an expansion in space-related activities, has ushered in an era for military communications emphasizing elevated data transmission capabilities. By far, the optical innovation that’s had the most profound effect on increased data rates, optical reach and data integrity, is the advent of coherent technology in the form of pluggable optics.

These advancements are not simply improvements; they are game changers that empower the Air Force and Space Force to manage and share large amounts of information reliably. With applications ranging from surveillance and reconnaissance to secure communications and command control, coherent optics provide an exponentially greater foundation than traditional On-Off keying, or “OOK”. Their use is especially beneficial in meeting the demands of ISR operations, where precise data accuracy and quick processing speeds (lower latency) are vital for making well-informed decisions.

Boosting Network Capacity and Efficiency

The strategic integration of 100G, 400G, and 800G coherent optical technologies is set to revolutionize the communication networks of the Air Force and Space Force by enabling much greater capacity and operational efficiency, both of which all networks need. Coherent technology not only enables these networks to handle larger data loads, which are essential for operations that extend across the globe and into space, they help solidify & secure these massive data sets moving across the globe from the bottom of the ocean’s floor to the highest altitudes possible that our brave men and women of all our forces are entrenched in 24/7/365.

By incorporating 400G capabilities, network hubs can support real-time, high-quality video streaming from drones, facilitate secure transmission of vital intelligence, and establish strong, dependable communication links that can withstand cyber and physical threats. These capabilities are essential for enhancing control and command and boosting the overall strategic agility of military forces. As these technologies advance, they will be instrumental in ensuring that the United States maintains its’ lead in communication technology by providing secure channels crucial for modern warfare and defense strategies.

Coherent Technology Basics

What is coherent and how does it enable the technological advancements mentioned in this article? By definition, coherent means logical and consistent. Coherent optical transmission essentially means the same thing in that the data sent from one end is intact & understandable once it’s received at the other end.

This occurs via several key things:

Coherent modules adjust the strength, or brightness of a wavelength, which is known as amplitude. It also adjusts the timing, or phase of the waveform. Of which, there are two phases. Think of them as an X & Y axis. By being able to adjust these 3 factors, it not only allows for an exponentially greater amount of data to be packed onto an optical signal of the same given size as traditional On-Off keying, but it also greatly reduces the overall size of the modules (Cards/interfaces/optics etc.) needed to perform these tasks. Thus, data rates go up and component sizes go down.

However, there’s much more to it than just larger data streams and smaller hardware.

Let’s break it down into a few simple analogies:

Think of the classic “Maglite” brand flashlight that all the policemen carry. That big, hefty thing that uses several large D sized batteries. It’s lit by an incandescent bulb and worked just fine day in and day out. One of the great features of the flashlight is you can adjust the width of the beam, from a narrow, intense and far-reaching light to a wide beam that could light up an entire room or open field.

Fast forward to today: The Maglite and its’ rivals has been greatly reduced in size WHILE at the same time, significantly increased the light intensity thanks to LED bulbs and a single lithium-ion battery. We went from a heavy little “baseball bat” stuffed with D batteries down to the something not much larger than a tube of lipstick with a battery half the size of that lipstick.

However, decreased size, increased intensity and intelligent data transmission are the end results of coherent technology. What are the main key technologies behind coherent?

The tiny flashlight is analogous to the coherent technology. Smaller, brighter and more sophisticated. These new coherent optics allow for larger data sets to be sent over longer distances via Digital Signal Processors or “DSP’s” and the use of advanced Forward Error Correction or “FEC” as well.

DSP’s is a fancy word for processor chips that are programmable to provide improvements of the optical signals and FEC is a set of mathematical algorithms that help mitigate bit errors on a link by “correcting” those zeroes and ones based upon the FEC calculations. These two significant advancements are part of the building blocks of coherent technology.

You can think of coherent as looking at the light in 3D like you would at a movie theater with the funny glasses on. Advancements in optical transmission have given us not only the ability to transmit a holistic, 3D view of these 100/400/800Gb & 1.2Tb data sets, we have the ability to coherently receive, understand and process the data effectively. That’s the key-

Improved Security and Reliability

Integrated optical technologies play a pivotal role in activities where information integrity and continuous communication are essential. These systems bolster security and network dependability through features like encryption at the physical layer to protect data from unauthorized access and maintain confidentiality of sensitive information. Moreover, technologies like intrusion detection systems actively monitor network traffic for indications of security breaches, adding a layer of defense against cyber threats. From security enhancements, integrated optical technologies improve dependability through auto-tuning and remote diagnostics.

These features allow networks to automatically adjust to configurations to ensure service and proactively detect potential issues before they lead to system failures, thus promoting continuous communication flow and operational readiness even in challenging conditions.

Cost Effectiveness and Efficient Budget Management

Balancing the constraints of activities while maintaining technological prowess poses a recurring dilemma for defense agencies. Coherent optical technologies tackle this issue by cutting upfront and ongoing costs. Innovations like 400ZR and 400G ZR+ pluggables enhance existing infrastructures without requiring system revamps, resulting in savings on investments and decreased installation downtime. Additionally, these systems’ simplified network design and improved manageability reduce network management and maintenance expenses. This streamlined approach meets government directives for prudence and leads to a notable decrease in overall ownership costs over time, making advanced communication technology accessible and sustainable for military purposes.

Support for Various Military Applications

The adaptability of technologies positions them as a valuable resource across various military scenarios catering to the specific needs of diverse operational settings—from highly secure bases within national borders to strategically located outposts in remote regions. These advanced technologies play a role in establishing secure and high-quality communication connections essential for various applications such as real-time drone operations, mobile command centers, and secure satellite communications. The ability to customize these systems to meet requirements—whether it involves boosting bandwidth for drone video feeds or ensuring quick communication for tactical decision-making—illustrates the flexibility and wide range of uses of coherent optics. This adaptability improves efficiency and ensures that military communication networks can expand and adapt to keep pace with evolving technologies and operational needs.

Promoting Interoperability and Future Proofing Network Infrastructure

In the communications landscape, where different systems and platforms need to work together seamlessly, interoperability is not just a convenience but a necessity. Coherent optical technologies play a role in enabling this interoperability by utilizing pluggable optics. These optics adhere to industry standards, making them compatible across hardware components and with products from different vendors without any compatibility issues. This standardization simplifies network maintenance and upgrade processes as components can be easily interchanged or upgraded without reconfiguration efforts. Additionally, this approach reduces complexities by minimizing the training required to handle a diverse range of proprietary systems.

By preparing the network infrastructure for the future, the Air Force and Space Force ensure they are ready to embrace technologies as they emerge. This allows them to seamlessly integrate these advancements into their system without disrupting operations.

Enhancing Operational Capabilities through Infrastructure Optimization

For both the Air Force and Space Force, staying ahead in operational capabilities hinges on the efficiency and performance of their communication networks. By implementing 400G wavelength services, these forces can optimize their network infrastructure to meet warfare requirements, which often involves managing amounts of data from various sources such as sensors, satellites, and unmanned systems. This implementation significantly improves information flow across the network by reducing latency and lowering the cost per unit of transmitted data— elements in achieving real-time communication and decision-making. Additionally, this improved network capacity and efficiency are crucial for supporting activities like high-definition video streaming for ISR missions, voice and data communications, and swift processing and distribution of intelligence data to leaders and decision-makers.

Applications at a Strategic Advantage with Swift Deployment Capabilities

The changing landscape of military operations demands strength, quickness, and adaptability in communication infrastructure. Deploying 100G optics at the network edge meets this requirement by facilitating the quick establishment and removal of high bandwidth communication links. This flexibility proves beneficial in scenarios like mobile command centers or active conflict zones, where traditional communication infrastructure might be lacking or compromised. These pluggable optics are designed for integration, enabling units to establish command, control, and ISR capabilities swiftly. Their use allows the military to expand their range and maintain communications even in challenging environments, thus boosting military operations’ overall responsiveness and efficiency.

Advancing Space Communications through Cutting Edge Optical Technologies

The increasing reliance on satellites for military purposes highlights the need for reliable communication systems in space operations. Coherent optical technologies enhance satellite connections and data transmission rates between Earth and orbiting spacecraft. These technologies enhance capacity and reduce communication latency, which is essential for accurate time data exchange, precise navigation, timely satellite constellation management, and effective utilization of space assets.

The utilization of optics in space meets the rigorous requirements for navigation and control. It plays a crucial role in scientific investigations, where transmitting large amounts of data back to Earth quickly and securely is essential. By enhancing the effectiveness and dependability of these communications, coherent optical technologies ensure that space missions can function with autonomy and adaptability to on-orbit circumstances.

In summary, the deliberate integration of technologies by the U.S. Air Force and Space Force goes beyond mere enhancement. It represents a fundamental transformation in the framework of military communications, safeguarding these forces against technological advancements and emerging risks. As operations become data-centric, intricate advanced communication technologies play a role in upholding operational superiority and achieving mission success. The advantages of these technologies—increased capacity, heightened security, and improved efficiency—position the Air Force and Space Force to address the evolving challenges of warfare and space exploration effectively. Technological progress holds promise for enhancing these capabilities, potentially revolutionizing how information is processed and exchanged across global and extraterrestrial domains. This continuous development will likely bring about improvements in capacities, thereby making substantial contributions to national security strategies and defense tactics in the coming years.