Tactical Wireless Communications and Networks: Design Concepts and Challenges

Preface

Before I can present design concepts or tactical wireless communications and network challenges, I feel the need to mention the challenges of writing for a field where some information is not available for public domain and cannot be included in this book's context. Another challenge is the use of military jargon and the extensive number of abbreviations (and abbreviations of abbreviations!) in the field. Engineering books are naturally dry, and I have attempted to make it light by presenting the concepts in layman's terms before diving into the technical details. I am structuring this book in such a way as to make it useful for a specialized graduate course in tactical communications and networking, or as a reference book in the field.

My own experience is similar to that of many engineers and scientists who moved from the commercial wireless communications and networks field, during the Internet boom in the 1990s, to the tactical wireless communications and networks field during the boom at the turn of the millennium. My unique experience is a result of the diverse projects I have been involved with. They have enabled me to see the larger picture of tactical networks, and have positioned me in such a place that I can take the challenge of writing this book.

The book, in many ways, draws a correlation between tactical wireless networks and commercial wireless networks, in order to make the reader aware of their different requirements, expectations, needs, and constraints ...