Security architecture for tactical/strategic interoperability

The technology and market forces have influenced the way we view the world of tactical and strategic communications. Our view of secure communications has always seen the strategic world as unique from the mobile platforms of the tactical world. Interoperability of such systems has always been a goal but has never become a reality. This has changed as a result of the Gulf War. In the Gulf War operation, the demand far an interoperable mix of tactical and strategic resources revealed significant weaknesses. Today, with such concepts as Global Grid and Command Control Communications Computers and Intelligence for the Warrior (C4IFIW), it has grown into a requirement where anyone, any place, at any time can talk to anybody. This expanded view of interoperability coupled with the fact that new communication products are introduced every twelve to eighteen months has forced us to look at providing security for the diverse products and networks in a new way. This paper describes a high level architectural methodology for developing future tactical to strategic interoperability while addressing security concerns.<>