Integrated Terminal Program (ITP)

SHF communication is a vital part of the warfighter's communications arsenal. Pervious SHF SATCOM Terminals have been installed on fleet flagships and flag capable ships, and on larger non-flag capable combatants. However, because of restricted topside locations and radar cross section (RCS) concerns, current systems available are not suitable for installation on the smaller combatants. Additionally, with respect to the overall communications capability of Navy ships, there has been a continuing demand for increased bandwidth. Since the SHF X-band Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) capacity has essentially been reached, further demand has been satisfied by commercial SHF C-band satellites and terminals, though restricted topside locations and RCS concerns have limited the ships that C-band terminals can be put on. The Integrated Terminal Program (ITP) will alleviate topside crowding and RCS concerns on the smaller combatants, and meet the demand for increased SHF communication capability, by procuring integrated X-band and C-band dual antenna terminals that use smaller antennas than current X-band or C-band SHF terminals. It will also accommodate future DSCS upgrades that incorporate Ka Band.

ITP provides the following capabilities:

• Provides interface to DSCS, Milstar, UFO/E, and commercial satellite constellations
• Leverages commercial technology
• Pursues multi-functional antenna technologies aboard ships for topside space, weight and radar cross section reduction
• Provides high-powered amplifier technology
• Applies common electronics and components
• Allows protected narrowband and wideband communications connectivity incorporating AJ and LPI/LPD technologies
• Supports high data rates required for intelligence, weather, live video, news and imagery

The Navy's Integrated Terminal Program is a strategy to cost-effectively meet future requirements for high capacity satellite communications for ships, submarines, and shore commands. ITP will migrate current stovepipe SATCOM systems which operate above 2 GHz to open architecture, modular, mult-band terminals and low observable, multifunction antennas. The current procurement process satisfies each requirement with a single function product. ITP will replace this linear process with a synthesized strategy. Use of commercial products such as antennas and RF devices will give access to both military and commercial satellites with savings in cost and size. At the same time, research to develop low observable antennas will lead to stealthier platforms as well as improved use of topside space.

Future ITP systems will provide: Global Broadcast System (GBS) Ku-band terminals; Extremely High Frequency (EHF) Medium Data Rate (MDR) capabilities; low observable (LO) antennas; and software driven, multiband, multifunction terminal suites. ITP enabling programs include the Navy EHF SATCOM Program (NESP), SHF SATCOM (Defense Satellite Communications Program-DSCS); the Submarine High Data Rate (HDR) program; the Commercial SATCOM Program (CSP) and the Global Broadcast Service (GBS).

Sources and Resources

• Integrated Terminal Program (ITP)