Scalable demonstrates undersea communications modeling and simulation with a wide range of communications methods. Photo Credit: Scalable

Scalable Network Technologies, a provider of multi-domain network design and optimization tools, has been supporting the high-fidelity undersea communications and networking simulation/emulation tool developed for the Forward Deployed Energy and Communications Outpost (FDECO) program. Multiple mission scenarios involving shore command centers, ships, submarines, Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV), Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUV) and forward deployed outposts were developed and executed in the Scalable simulation/emulation environment to demonstrate the benefits of establishing undersea energy and communications nodes. Multiple communications methods and protocols were explored in each scenario, including fiber optics, satellite communications, Very Low Frequency (VLF) propagation, line-of-sight Radio Frequency (RF), acoustic, free space optical and “data ferring” using UUVs/UAVs.

The FDECO Integrated Network Simulator (FINS) developed by Scalable provides high-fidelity models of outpost and vehicle energy management, as well as, all necessary communications between ashore command centers, afloat commanders and individual ships and submarines operating in challenging environments where normal communications methods have been denied or degraded.

FINS includes a high-resolution 3D visualization of vehicle operations and communications events to assist planners and operators in understanding the dynamics of mission execution and data transfers. FINS can also be interfaced with other simulations and live components to provide a comprehensive Live Virtual Constructive (LVC) environment for evaluating undersea energy, sensor, and communications solutions.