surveillance - battlespace (CDN Combat Data Network)

The Combat Data Network (CDN) system provides enhanced surveillance coverage and real time targeting for a range of platforms and mission scenarios. The quality and effectiveness of Defence Force decisions are improved with the use of a CDN system as the combination of data from remotely located sensors results in:

enhanced target acquisition through early detection of threats and reduced track drop-out
an extended battlespace
faster targeting responses by weapon control systems

CDN benefits

The use of a CDN system provides significant improvements in battlespace surveillance and targeting capabilities and offers the following benefits:

increased engagement envelopes through over the horizon targeting
improved target track quality and reduced likelihood of track fade-outs
enhanced tactical sensor-to-shooter networking
improved detection of low observable threats and enhanced situational awareness as the CDN system provides different aspect views of the threat target
earlier threat identification providing more time to react to and engage threats and deploy countermeasures if required thus improving platform survivability
improved interoperability between tri-service assets and platforms as the CDN system provides targeting across land, sea and air based platforms
improved friendly and hostile force identification thus reducing the likelihood of friendly fire incidents
reduced cost of ownership as the CDN system uses existing low bandwidth bearers and platform sensors or COTS/MOTS communications devices

Description	Pertinent information
The CDN system uses existing low bandwidth bearers and platform sensors or commercial or military off-the-shelf (COTS/MOTS) communications links to exchange raw sensor data such as radar plots. This exchange of plot data allows a platform equipped with a CDN node to make use of and fuse plot data from other CDN equipped platforms for the purpose of target tracking. The collaboration facilitated by the CDN system means that a platform is no longer solely dependent on its own sensor suite. The combat system of a CDN equipped platform treats the CDN node as just another sensor. The fact that the CDN node has the embedded capability of every sensor within the network is transparent to the combat system. In this way the CDN system overcomes the limitations of the platform's own sensor suite, improves target track quality and enhances targeting support for medium and long-range weapon systems.	CDN Architecture The CDN system is a distributed multi-sensor integration capability designed to provide real time targeting. Unlike conventional data links which pass all track information, the CDN system employs a novel data and sensor scheduling system that works on the principle of only exchanging the necessary sensor data to create and maintain target tracks with sufficient accuracy for weapon targeting. The CDN system does this for multiple targets by fusing sensor data obtained from multiple platforms and does so within the constraints of the available communications bandwidth.
Status	Company
Tenix Defence Electronic Systems Division (ESD) is developing the Combat Data Network under the Australian Capability and Technolgoy Demonstrator (CTD) process. The concept has been developed with Australia's Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and the University of Melbourne. ESD has been a key player in the field of adaptive sensors and sensor networking for over 10 years. ESD has prototyped the CDN to provide proof-of concept and has undertaken simulation work to prove the operational CDN concept.	Team Australia - Tenix Defence - Electronic Systems Division