Mitigating Security Threats in Tactical Networks

The future of tactical networks encompasses multi-hop digitised voice and data communications using VHF/UHF-band radios. While this radio band has excellent propagation properties, their relatively low bandwidth, high error rates and node mobility makes tactical radios less than ideal as a robust networking platform. Since networking is new to tactical communications, the security implications are not fully understood. Significant related research has been done for the network threats and vulnerabilities of commercial mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs), however the threats in the literature are not always directly analogous because of the different communications characteristics. This paper takes a novel approach by reviewing known MANET security threats and then evaluating their potential impact on tactical networks. Though this analysis does not cover all possible security threats, it does leverage previous work and identify the most critical areas for further research. Based on this analysis, we propose the use of a cross-layer service framework to integrate security functions across all communication layers. A description of the framework and its application to several security areas are included.