Initial system design of a gateway interface for the Military Tactical Network system

The Military Tactical Network (MTN) system is an automated satellite communications system designed to provide a near term tactical intelligence dissemination capability to deployed forces. The system was initially developed to address the pressing need for the timely delivery of intelligence information. The primary customers of the MTN system are the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence (C31) and the intelligence community. The user community will include members of these two organizations as well as military personnel.

The MTN system was used during a recent military demonstration and it was determined that the MTN Gateway Interface, the mechanism available to users for injecting messages for delivery into the system and for performing additional administrative functions, needs to be redesigned prior to the system achieving Initial Operating Capability (IOC). The system currently uses a cryptic, menu-driven interface with an all ASCII representation. This project and report addresses the need for an improved Gateway Interface for the MTN System The systems engineering approach is followed in presenting the conceptual and preliminary design of the MTN Gateway Interface. The development of the improved interface will enhance the capabilities and usability of the MTN system.