HEADQUARTERS U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command Fort Huachuca, Arizona 85613-5300

• 3. U.S. ARMY SYSTEMS DESIGN GUIDANCE
• 3.1 Director of Information Systems for Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (DISC4)
• 3.1 Department of the Joint Technical Architecture - Army (JTA-A)
• 3.1.1 Information Transport Standards
• 3.1.2 Information Transport Architecture
• 3.1.3 Network Protocols
• 3.1.4 Communications Emerging Standards
• 3.1.4.1 Emerging Host Standards
• 3.1.4.2 Emerging Network Standards
• 3.2 Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I)
• 3.2.1 Warfighter Information Network (WIN)
• 3.2.2 Intelligence INCA (Classified)
• 3.2.2.1 TROJAN
• 3.3 Network and System Management (NSM) Configuration Control Board (CCB)
• 3.4 Request for DISN Services

3. U.S. ARMY SYSTEMS DESIGN GUIDANCE

3.1 Department of the Joint Technical Architecture - Army (JTA-A)

The Office of the Director of Information Systems for Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (ODISC4) was directed by the Army Enterprise Implementation Plan to develop and implement the JTA-A. The purpose of a technical architecture is to ensure that systems conform to a specified set of requirements.

The JTA-A is the baseline for Army systems design guidance. It simplifies the DoD TAFIM in some ways by condensing the guidance, which is stated within the TAFIM in broad terms to encompass the entire DoD as an enterprise system, to Army-specific requirements. The JTA-A defines a technical architecture as a minimal set of rules governing the arrangement, interaction, and interdependence of the parts or elements that together may be used to form an information system. Its purpose is to ensure that Army system development (and the migration of existing information systems) satisfies a specified set of requirements that lead to interoperability. The JTA-A is compared with a building code. That is, it does not tell the engineer what to build or how to build; instead it delineates the standards that will have to be met to pass inspection before the system that is built can be used.

Also, like building codes, the JTA-A is a constantly evolving set of guidelines. As technologies and standards change, so will the JTA-A.

Based on a policy memorandum dated 29 June 1994, wherein the Secretary of Defense stated his commitment to "a new way of doing business" in DoD to include the use of open systems, the JTA-A is heavily oriented toward the use of open systems standards.

The JTA-A groups Army systems into the following categories or domains:

• C3I. Previous versions of the JTA-A were focused primarily on standards for the C2, communications, and intelligence/electronic warfare (IEW) systems that comprise this domain.
• Weapons Systems. A Weapons System Technical Architecture (WSAT) working group was formed in May 1995 as the first step in expanding the scope of the JTA-A to focus more closely on these systems. Weapons-system-associated JTA-A exceptions and/or extensions are documented in the JTA-A as they are developed and approved. These exceptions/extensions will maintain interoperability as currently defined in the JTA-A, while extending the JTA-A into areas such as hardware, power management, diagnostic, and software re-use standards.
• Sustaining Base/Office Automation. This domain consists of automated systems that provide service support, business, and office automation functions. The widening proliferation of these types of systems in the battlefield-support role, in parallel with the development of the reach-back concept, has caused the conformance of these systems to the JTA-A to become increasingly important. Correspondingly, the scope of the JTA-A has been expanded to focus more heavily on standards for these systems.
• Modeling and Simulation. This domain contains standards that support architectural efforts to combine live, virtual, and constructive modeling and simulation for training and combat analyses.

The JTA-A takes advantage of commercial investment in information technologies. It will not remain static but will evolve through participation with DoD, industry, and international standards organizations in order to identify trends and standards. The sections of the JTA-A that most apply to long-haul transmission systems are primarily the communication transport standards and architecture.

3.1.1 Information Transport Standards

Within the JTA-A, information transport standards define the communications support required to provide seamless, reliable, and timely information exchange between users. Communications systems and related network interfaces define the topology of the system, and common protocols provide the means necessary for seamless information exchange between users. The standards used are typically widely accepted commercial standards and use the same open systems architecture used for the Internet and the DISN.

The standards and protocols primarily used in long-haul transmission systems are at the physical layer (Layer 1) of the OSI model. Packet WANs that run over long-haul transmission systems such as NIPRNET, SIPRNET, and JWICS use standards and protocols through Layer 4 of the OSI model.

3.1.2 Information Transport Architecture

The Information Transport Architecture provides the service structure to accomplish the functions of the external environment's communications. The station equipment (application platform or non-platform end device) obtains communications services via the access link in accordance with the protocol profiles defined in the user-network interface (UNI) services. The communications node services provide the switching, routing, and gateway functions. The trunk link interconnects communications nodes in accordance with the protocol profiles defined in the network-network interface (NNI) services.

3.1.3 Network Protocols

• IEEE 802.3: IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) is the most common LAN technology available. The profile for IEEE 802.3 shall be in accordance with MIL-STD-2045-14502-4/5.
• Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI): FDDI is a standard for high-speed LANs and MANs. FDDI is defined by a series of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards. These ISO standards shall apply:
• 9314 (high-speed LANs and MANs)
• 9314-1 (physical layer)
• 9314-2 (medium access control)
• 9314-3 (multimode fiber)
• 9314-4 (single mode fiber)

The Logical Link Control (LLC) layer for FDDI shall be as specified in IEEE 802.2.

• Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM): ATM is a high-speed switching technology that takes advantage of low bit error rate transmission facilities to accommodate intelligent multiplexing of voice, data, video, imagery, and composite inputs over high-speed trunks. The network access protocols to ATM switches are defined in the ATM Forum's User-Network Interface Specification, Version 3.1.
• Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN): The narrowband ISDN basic rate interface (BRI) and primary rate interface (PRI) provide digital users access via the ISDN telephone network. The BRI provides two B channels (64 Kbps each) for information transport and one D channel (16 Kbps) for signaling. The PRI provides 23 B channels for information transport and one D channel for signaling (all channels are 64 Kbps).
• Asynchronous: For asynchronous lines the data link protocol shall be the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), which is specified in RFC-1661. The profile is specified in MIL-STD-2045-13500.
• Synchronous: For synchronous lines the data link protocol shall be the Link Access Protocol Balanced (LAPB) protocol as specified in International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Recommendation X.25. The profile is specified in MIL-STD-2045-14502-2.

3.1.4 Communications Emerging Standards

3.1.4.1 Emerging Host Standards

A list of emerging host standards is found in the JTA-A, paragraph 3.3.1.

3.1.4.2 Emerging Network Standards

A list of emerging network standards is found in the JTA-A, paragraph 3.3.2.

3.2 Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I)

3.2.1 Warfighter Information Network (WIN)

The WIN is an evolving, integrated C4 network of communications that is comprised of evolving, commercially based, high technology information and communications systems. WIN is designed to increase the capacity and velocity of information distribution throughout the battlespace in order to gain information dominance. WIN will maximize information services for the warfighter and support the Power Projection Force of the 21st Century from sustaining base to foxhole. WIN is made of up major component threads and supporting systems, including Power Projection and Sustaining Base (PPSB), Satellite Systems, Terrestrial Transport Systems, Tactical Internet/Combat Net Radio (CNR), Information Services, Information Systems, and Network Management.

3.2.2 Intelligence

3.2.2.1 TROJAN

The TROJAN program is directed by the Department of the Army (DA) Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (DCSINT). It is supported by a mix of Government and commercial leased communications. The TROJAN consists of the following three major elements:

1. Remote collection facilities (RCF): Data collection for the TROJAN mission is initiated at the RCFs by the Remote Receiver Groups (RRG).
2. Central operating facilities (COF): A TROJAN COF provides the storage, control, and analysis capabilities for the TROJAN system.
3. Switching center: TROJAN global communications are focused at the TROJAN switching center, which creates a path between data sources and users of that data. The RCFs and COFs provide the overwhelming majority of the TROJAN data requirements.

The classical TROJAN system includes, but is not limited to, signals intelligence (SIGINT) capability facilitated by the RCFs, COFs, and switching center.

TROJAN SPIRITs are added to provide source dissemination and data capability to the classical system. A TROJAN SPIRIT is a high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV)-based processing and dissemination system. TROJAN SPIRIT systems were originally fielded for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm to disseminate information to Echelons above Corps (EAC) and Echelon Corps and Below (ECB). Because of their national connectivity via the TROJAN network, TROJAN SPIRITs are an asset in both forward-deployed and split-based operations. The TROJAN SPIRIT systems provide all source dissemination capabilities as well as secure voice, data, and facsimile (FAX). SATCOM connectivity is achieved via a lightweight 2.4 meter antenna.

3.3 Network and System Management (NSM)

The NSM Configuration Control Board (CCB) controls the standard NSM technical solution at a hardware and software level. The U.S. Army Network and Systems Management Technical Baseline Configuration reflects the CCB-approved configuration. The goal of this document is to provide effective, responsive, and pro-active network management.

The NSM architecture and strategy for long-haul communication systems provided by DISA (DISN, CONUS, OCONUS, Terrestrial) systems are identified. As most Army long-haul transmission systems are either provided by, interfaced to, or part of DISN, the Army long-haul transmission systems must be compliant with DISA and the JTA standards and architecture for their NSMs, which will in turn evolve NSMs for long-haul systems from stand-alone proprietary systems.

Select here to link to the NSM Design Guide.

3.4 Request for DISN Service

DA PAM 25-5, Preparing and Processing Request for Long-Haul Information Transfer Services, provides the information required to order/request DISN services.