In future, U.S. warfighters will communicate via undersea optic fiber backbone

In a future conflict, U.S. forces might be denied the use of traditional tactical networks by the enemy. DARPA has come up with a plan to keep communications in contested environments alive by using an an undersea optical fiber backbone.

Graphic: DARPA

Buoys will be deployed from aircraft and ships, each buoy will be link to one another using thin fiber-optic cables that can survive rough ocean conditions for up to 30 days. Each buoy will temporarily restore radio frequency (RF) tactical data networks in its area of coverage.

Scientists from the University of Washington’s Applied Physics Lab (APL) developed a renewable energy system that taps on wave power to generate electricity to run the buoys.

Phase one testing was recently completed and during phase two, researchers will attempt to recreate a Link 16 network out at sea.