High-speed networks are the arteries in the body of a modern information society. Informationand communication technologies are innovative technologies and playing a more and moreincreasing role, even in national defence. Unmanned Arial Systems (UAS) are integral part of amodern air force with permanently growing importance.Today, the capacity of tactical communication networks is primarily supported by radiofrequency (RF) communication which is a limiting factor in bandwidth-intensive warfightingoperations. Thus, the paper illustrates in which way RF communication in combination withFree Space Optical Communication (FSO) permits new possibilities for UAS operations andIntelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) data dissemination.The major features of RF and FSO communication are compared, pros and cons will bediscussed, and their use in network topologies are examined with the aim to meet a broadrequirement spectrum of future UAS operations.While mission control data for High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) or Medium AltitudeLong Endurance (MALE) UAS are typically transmitted via Satellite Communication,significantly higher data rates from high performance onboard sensors need to be transmitted inthe return direction either via Beyond Line of Side (BLOS) SATCOM link or from UAS areaof operation to a UAS ground station or even directly to users at the battlefield.Alternatively to SATCOM, sensor data can also be transmitted over long distances via a relaycapability provided by a second high-flying UAS. Of course, the relay configuration introducesadditional complexity in terms of self jamming, antenna placement, asymmetric transmissions,etc. which will be explained.However, dissemination of ISR data by communication systems often require some degree oftailoring for best performance. In this context information exchange requirements and thefeasibility of1 high capacity SATCOM relays,2 dedicated airborne relays, and3 Peer-to-Peer relayswill be discussed.Using the example of typical high sophisticated UAS sensors and its generated data sets thesystem performances of the above listed relays are evaluated. Moreover, special features ofUAS communication via LEO and GEO satellites are discribed, and adventages and
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