MIL-STD-188/183: A Standard for UHF Satellite Communications
Ultra high frequency (UHF) satellite communications (SATCOM) are widely used by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) and its allies for tactical and strategic purposes. UHF SATCOM provides reliable and secure voice and data communications over long distances and in challenging environments, such as mountains, jungles, and urban areas. However, to ensure interoperability and compatibility among different UHF SATCOM terminals and systems, a common set of standards and protocols is required.
One of the key standards that defines the requirements for UHF SATCOM is MIL-STD-188/183, which is titled "Interoperability Standard for Multiple-Access 5-kHz and 25-kHz UHF Satellite Communications Channels". This standard establishes mandatory requirements applicable to SATCOM terminals required to access pre-assigned (PA) or demand-assigned (DA) user-to-user communications (UCOM) services that operate on either 5-kHz or 25-kHz UHF SATCOM channels. The standard also defines the time-division multiple-access (TDMA) frame structure, timing requirements, and protocols for accessing the UCOM and overhead services.
MIL-STD-188/183 is part of a series of MIL-STD-188 standards that cover various aspects of UHF SATCOM, such as modulation, error correction, encryption, performance, and orderwire. The following table summarizes the main components of the MIL-STD-188 series related to UHF SATCOM:
| Interoperability Standard for Single-Access 5-kHz and 25-kHz UHF Satellite Communications Channels |
| Defines the modulation types and rates, forward error correction (FEC), interleaving, user-traffic communications security (COMSEC), and performance parameters that apply to the bursts employed for each transmission employed in single-access mode on 5-kHz and 25-kHz UHF SATCOM channels. |
| Interoperability Standard for Orderwire Messages and Protocols for Multiple-Access 5-kHz and 25-kHz UHF Satellite Communications Channels |
| Defines the orderwire (OW) messages and protocols required by a terminal to participate in UCOM services operating in demand-assigned multiple-access (DAMA) mode on 5-kHz and 25-kHz UHF SATCOM channels. |
| Interoperability Standard for Multiple-Access 5-kHz and 25-kHz UHF Satellite Communications Channels |
| Defines the TDMA frame structure, timing requirements, and protocols for accessing the UCOM and overhead services on 5-kHz and 25-kHz UHF SATCOM channels. |
| Interoperability Standard for SHF Satellite Communications Terminals |
| Defines the requirements for super high frequency (SHF) SATCOM terminals that operate in conjunction with UHF SATCOM terminals. |
The latest version of MIL-STD-188/183 is Revision B Notice 1 - Validation, which was issued on February 2, 2023. The standard is available for download in PDF format from the Defense Logistics Agency's ASSIST website. The standard is classified as Distribution Statement C, which means that it is authorized for distribution to U.S. Government Agencies and their contractors only.
MIL-STD-188/183 is an important document that ensures the interoperability and compatibility of UHF SATCOM systems among different users and platforms. By following the standard's requirements, SATCOM terminals can access various UCOM services on either 5-kHz or 25-kHz channels, depending on the availability and demand. The standard also facilitates the coordination and management of UHF SATCOM resources through the use of orderwire messages and protocols. By adhering to MIL-STD-188/183, UHF SATCOM users can achieve reliable and secure communications over long distances and in challenging environments.
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