The Australian Defence Force vision is for a single conceptual communications network applicable to all bearers, be they land-line, satellite or in this case, HF radio. Although much work has been done on the use of Internet protocols over satellite and land-line wide area networks, little has been done on the integration of HF bearers. The Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) trial radio network allows investigation of networking issues and the demonstration of modern capabilities in HF radio. The impetus behind much of this work is that Australia is replacing its defence HF radio communications facilities with a modernised HF communications system (MHFCS). The resultant network will be one of the World's largest military HF radio networks. The new network is required to provide a wide range of services typical of military command and control; some not normally carried by HF radio. The stalwart of military HF communications rests with broadcast and messaging. However, this situation is changing. The network must now carry email, imagery, text, data files, and voice. The new system needs to possess automatic network functionality. These requirements can only be met through new technologies and new network architectural solutions.
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