COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
Protected Core Networks
| Protected Core Networks (PCNs) are military IP networks offering high levels of resilience and strength against intrusion attempts. The PCN is a new NATO concept, and current military networks are expected to evolve towards this.  The job of the PCN is to carry real-time and data traffic in a reliable manner between military groups in the field. The network must be protected in order to withstand threats to deny the network from supplying its users with the intended transport service. Such threats may include electronic attacks on transmission links or nodes in the network. Methods such as authentication and authorisation of access to the network and its services, encryption of user traffic and anti-jamming measures are needed to cope with threats. Other techniques such as multi-topology routing and prioritised access to the network can be applied to make the best use of network capacity. Thales Norway is the prime industrial partner for deployable military networks in several Scandinavian nations, and so Scandinavian military forces have a strong, reassuring partner to provide them with guidance, testing, system engineering and development of particular military features; all based on up-to-date, detailed knowledge of their networks. One system is just about to be upgraded to a new, fully IP-based, deployable network. Another has already migrated some time ago from TDM to an IP-based deployable network. Thales Norway has provided support as an important industrial partner throughout this transition. Thales Norway monitors NATO standardisation closely and aligns its work accordingly. Thales Norway has been a main contributor to TACOMS architecture work, which is currently being converted into NATO specifications for a new generation of deployable military networks. |
