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Dutch military IP-based network
TITAAN is the name of the current Dutch military communications systems,
that entered service in the early 2000s. TITAAN is the abbreviation of
Theatre Independent Tactical Army and Airforce Network.
It replaced the ageing ZODIAC system that was phased
out when TITAAN came to life.
Within TITAAN, both civil and military equipment is integrated and great
care is taken to ensure communication security.
TITAAN is partly developed by
Dutch research establishment TNO.
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In the first stages of implementation of TITAAN, certain parts of
the old ZODIAC network, such as the
Mucolex II (BVO-M)
units, were still in use, by giving them
a mid-life upgrade (see below).
The image on the right shows a Dutch soldier operating a computer as
part of a TITAAN sub-system. As is clearly visible in the image, the
system consists of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf equipment (COTS), such
as IP-switches, as well as ruggedized military-grade devices.
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TITAAN can be seen as a large robust military computer network that can be used
anywhere in the world under any circumstances. It allows fast, reliable and
secure exchange of e-mail, voice (phone) and data, independent of the underlying
network structure (hardware). Local Area Networks (LAN) can be linked over
satellite, line-of-sight radio links (LOS), HF radio and/or commercial
IP-infrastructure (internet) into a world-wide network (WAN).
In 2004, TITAAN was awarded the Best NCW Program Award by the American Army.
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In the first stages of implementation of TITAAN, certain parts of
the old ZODIAC network were still integrated.
For example the trunk cipher device BVO-M
(Mucolex II) was given a new
lease of life by replacing its interface with a TITAAN-compatible one
developed by TNO-FEL [3].
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This interface, the so-called FM-200 Adapter Box,
was developed by TNO-FEL [4]
and allowed TITAAN sub-networks to be linked using
existing FM-200 point-to-point line-of-sight radio links (LOS).
The interface is called TC-FEC (Turbo Code Forward Error Correction) [6]
and offers improved reliabilty by introducing error correction
at the expense of data transfer speed.
The image on the right shows an existing Philips BVO-M (center) with an
existing line interface (left) and the new TC-FEC unit for connection
to the FM200 radio at the right (green display).
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As error correction is always a trade-off between performance
and transfer speed, the TC-FEC unit offered three levels of error
correction selectable with a switch:
FEC 1.0 (1Mb/s, no error correction),
FEC 0.793 (793Kb/s) and FEC 0.495 (495Kb/s with maximum error correction).
In 2005, BVO-M (Mucolex II)
was still in use with TITAAN, implicating a life span of nearly 30 years!
The last BVO unit was decomissioned in 2007, after which
ZODIAC became history.
Mucolex was a cryptographic device developed by
Philips Usfa BV in the early 1970s.
More information about this device is available on the
Philips Crypto part
of this website.
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BVO
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Bundel Vercijfer- Ontcijfertoestel
Multiplexed data encryption/decryption equipment.
Also known as a Trunk Encryption Device.
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COTS
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Commercial off-the-shelf
General term for equipment that is readily available from preferred
suppliers. Such equipment can be designed to military standards but is
often not ruggedized.
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FEC
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Forward Error Correction
Method for interleaving a data stream with redundant information,
in such a way that transmission errors can be detected and corrected.
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IP
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Internet Packet
Method for defining and transmitting (data) packets over a LAN or WAN,
such as the common TCP/IP standard used on the internet.
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LOS
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Line of Sight
General term for point-to-point radio links (generally operating on VHF,
UHF or SHF) with an operating distance up to the (optical) horizon.
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LAN
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Local Area Network
Small network of computers that are interconnected (commonly by means
of IP-switched networks).
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MOTS
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Military off-the-shelf
Similar to COTS but built to (physical) military standards.
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WAN
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Wide Area Network
Larger (out-door) network, such as the internet, commonly spanning
the globe.
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- Th. Ent, Het was even stil rondom TITAAN
Intercom, 2001, Volume 3, p. 24-25 (Dutch)
- I. Lempens, Het project TITAAN
Intercom, 2001, Volume 3, p. 24-25 (Dutch)
- A. Regtien & HW Evers,
TITAAN: Flexibel en veelzijdig, maar ook veilig en betrouwbaar
Intercom, 2001, Volume 4, p. 58-59 (Dutch)
- Geerlof Kanis, Grote rol TNO bij bouw communicatie- en informatiesystemen
TNO managzine, September 2005. p. 6-7. Dutch.
- Floortje Vriezema, Een strategisch partnership
TNO Defensie en Veiligheid / Turnaround Communicatie.
Nederlandse Officierenvereniging. Carré 12 - 2007, p. 11-13. Dutch.
- Th. Sierksma & A. Bijlsma, Transmissie binnen TITAAN
Intercom, 2005, Volume 1, p. 41-45. Dutch.
- DPGL van de Braak, 1GNC: Een veranderende omgeving, innovatiekansen
Intercom, 2011, Volume 1, p. 37-41. Dutch.
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© Crypto Museum. Last changed: Friday, 07 April 2023 - 14:30 CET.
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![Close-up of part of the TNO-developed TC-FEC unit. Copyright TNO 2007 [5].](img/tno_tcfec_full.jpg)