The Future Framework for the Integrated Battlefield from GET Engineering

By John Reardon, Editor

The The Arm Forces continues to find answers to complex networking solutions from GET Engineering. GET known for its intent to do the right thing for its clients for the past 3 decades, has introduced a solution that draws upon their experience to address the needs of here and now. Initiatives such as the Air Force’s Joint all Domain C2 (or JADC2) or the Army’s Sensor-to-Shooter are based on the premise that a connected battlefield will be able to take advantage of the next generation of machine learning and GET plans to be on the front line.

The goal of having a highly integrated battlefield is not just a bunch of communications people, it is a warfighting business, explained Marine Corp Lt. General Dennis Crall. Crall is the Joint Staff’s director of command, control, communications, and computers – referred to as the J-6. He goes on to explain how combining sensors through communications across all domains is a priority that demands a sense of urgency. That the communication framework will support the Five-Eye allies early in the process to assure their support and integration. This includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Having thoroughly discussed the concept, they all were forthcoming in sharing their data for the benefit of all. It was acknowledged that working with the industry by adopting best practices will assure that everyone doesn’t run off and do something incompatible. Making systems interoperable is difficult in the data center, but to affirm that interoperable truly means they work together when deployed, Crall has set off to define a framework that will draw upon known commercial standards that meets the need of the warfighter.

It was clear to the leadership of GET that by combining the best of the commercial world and their knowledge of the defense market, that they could provide a solution that would address the complexities of what the next generation warfighters face. From field-deployed GPUs and other high-power compute engines, the need for a rugged, performance-oriented router that can deliver high speed, secure data was a must. The need to put these routers into the field at the edge and affirm they meet the

The need for a no-compromise The need for a no-compromise Router that incorporated the most Router that incorporated the most advanced cybersecurity and speed advanced cybersecurity and speed at the edge was clear. at the edge was clear.

demands of our warfighters was something befitting of GET’s engineering skills.

As informational data being collected from thousands of sensors is collected and machine learning algorithms are being applied the need for intelligent routers at the edge was recognized as an absolute must. The AI, Machine Learning advancements that both China and Russia have employed in previous encounters made the US acutely aware of the need to take action and take action fast. The data-hungry FPGA’s and GPUs needed to be fed with uncompromised data to make unfettered decisions. It is clear that our advisories have come to understand and be able to predict our response to almost all incursions, but the goal is to build an asymmetrical response for an element of surprise through the use of all this data. By connecting Space, Air, Sea, and Land through a cyber secure GET’s CEN 6300 will enable a compendium of knowledge to contribute to the correct response to any threat.

The need for a no-compromise Router that incorporated the most advanced cybersecurity and speed at the edge was clear. The ability to take data from sensors in the field that spanned generations of the design was something that GET has been challenged with before and felt that they could do it again. Recognizing, that this new world would have to build upon the technology of the most advanced routers/ switches in the commercial sector and combine them into a packaging system that met the rigors of front-line service was key. The focus on providing intent-based networking for the WAN, LAN, and Cloud was the cornerstone of being able to modernize the battlefield to address future threats.

GET sought out CISCO, as the most advance commercial provider of Routers and Switches, they combined their knowledge and expertise to build the CEN-6300. The joining of the bestof-the-best enables a perfect combination of skills to put a no-comprise Router together. Designed for front line “at the edge” deployment, the CEN-6300 is SWAP (Space, weight, and power) optimized.

In normal circumstances, managing everything gets complex with more user devices and applications. That is where combining CISCO and GET was a perfect choice. Having a secure architecture for seamlessly connecting any user to any application on any cloud all with a full security stack built-in. Employing the onboard Trust Anchor module (Tam) along with image signing, Secure Boot, and Runtime Defenses ensures that the code running is authentic, unmodified, and operating as intended. Having the right security in the right place delivering an optimized user experience across any cloud and everything is deployed and managed from a single dashboard are all features that are a must. companies, the CEN-6300 provides six highspeed Gigabit Ethernet Interfaces and a rich CISCO IOS XE Software suite (Two Routed, 4 Switched). The familiar CISCO software suite is easily configured. And includes:

•Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA), Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), ACLs, Cisco Configuration Professional, Cisco Discovery Protocol, Connectionless Network Service (CLNS), Cisco Networking Services, EIGRP, SNMP, MIB, raw sockets, Call Home, First-Hop Redundancy Protocol (FHRP), Hierarchical Queuing Framework (HQF), iEDGE, basic routing and multicast, NAT, Network Time Protocol (NTP), DHCP, Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP), basic OSPF and OSPFv3, QoS, RIP, HTTP, Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP), STP, VLAN, VRF, 802.1X •IPsec, crypto tunnels, FlexVPN, Internet Key Exchange (IKE) v2 •Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express

•AAA, ARP, ACL, Cisco Configuration Professional, Cisco Discovery Protocol, CLNS, Cisco Networking Services, EIGRP, SNMP, MIB, raw sockets, Call Home, FHRP, HQF, iEDGE, basic routing and multicast, NAT, NTP, DHCP, ICMP, IGMP, basic OSPF and OSPFv3, QoS, RIP, HTTP, HSRP, STP, VLAN, VRF, 802.1X •IPsec, crypto tunnels, FlexVPN, IKE v2

•MPLS, BFD, RSVP, IP SLA, TCP optimization, App-aware QoS policies, and troubleshooting •Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express •Cisco DNA Center add-on license*

GET applied its domain expertise in C4ISR/ EW systems and interfaces, as well as system-of-systems design principles, to realize the next generation for ground combat vehicle architectures working closely with the DoD and industry. The CEN-6300 employs a Cryptographic module that is FIP-140 compliant covering a wide range of potential applications and environments.

The conduction-cooled unit employs a lightweight rugged chassis that meets MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, and RTCA DO-160. The power supply is compliant with MIL-STD-740D and MIL-STD-1275D and offers voltage input from 18 to 36 Volts DC. The connectors are EMI Shielded MIL-DTL-38999. Incorporating PoE and PoE+ the CEN 6300 offers you the convenience of driving a camera, an intercom, wall

clocks, industrial control systems, or an array of other devices.

Switches and Routers more than other kinds of devices in a data center have been “black boxes” with the internal workings being highly guarded secrets. This is an acknowledged concern when considering the open standards that are being employed throughout the defense industry. CISCO also acknowledged this deficit and has rolled out a series of ASICS to be launched in December 2019. The secret to the Silicon One architecture, and which is reflected in its name, is having a single, unified architecture that spans both switching and routing and that includes all features for all devices.

Advancing speed and performance with each release, the Silicon One Architecture allows GET to mirror this agility and the latest technology within their CEN 6300 and thus not have to compromise on performance and can stay in lockstep with the commercial market. As the payloads and demands of the integrated battlefield evolve, as the power of vehicles increases to 36 volts DC or the weight concerns of airborne applications increase, GET is committed to providing solutions without compromise.

GET has nearly 4 decades of generational experience in building specialized communications equipment for an array of Navy requirements. Although the CEN 6300 will address a myriad of Navy applications, GET is confident that it will find a home in many areas where a no-compromise Router at the edge is needed. GET has been founded on the premise of employing technology to save lives, and that failure is not an option. This has led the company to be a leading supplier of communications gear to the Navy for decades. In the area of NTDS, GET took a leading role as the supplier of choice in 1986 and through several contributions and advancement retains it to this day. Recognizing the multifaceted make-up of defense technology, GET has taken assertive action to affirm that from the initial procurement to a system refresh decades later they won’t leave you adrift.