System design of tactical communications with Solar Blind Ultraviolet Non Line-of-Sight systems

Abstract

Recent advances in component technology now make it possible to exploit of the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum for short range, medium bandwidth, low probability of intercept (LPI) communications. BAE Systems will report on analysis of hardware and phenomenology for the near term application of Solar Blind Ultraviolet Non Line-of-Sight Communications (SB UV NLOS Comm). Communications in the presence of Radio Frequency (RF) interference from Counter-IED jamming is a formidable challenge for our war-fighters on the battlefield of today and the future. Here we discuss approaches to exploit the Solar Blind (SB) Ultraviolet (UV) spectrum to provide a short range (∼500m), medium bandwidth (28.8 kbps), Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS), networked communications system as an alternative to traditional RF communications systems.