JTNC Chronological History

From JTRS to JTNC: A Historical Overview of Tactical Networking in the DoD

The Joint Tactical Networking Center (JTNC) represents a significant shift in the Department of Defense's (DoD) approach to military communications networking. This overview traces its evolution from the ambitious but challenged Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Joint Program Executive Office (JPEO) to the more focused and collaborative JTNC.

The JTRS Era (1998-2012): Ambitious Goals, Complex Challenge
Launched in 1998, JTRS aimed to revolutionize battlefield communication with software-defined radios (SDRs) capable of running various waveforms, enabling seamless interoperability across military branches. However, the program faced significant challenges:
Technological Hurdles: Developing advanced SDRs with numerous waveforms proved more complex and time-consuming than anticipated.

Program Management: The simultaneous development of multiple radio hardware programs created dependencies and slowed progress.

Evolving Requirements: The rapid pace of technology and changing battlefield needs demanded constant adjustments, further complicating development.
 
The Birth of JTNC (2012): Focusing on Waveforms and Interoperability
 
April 24, 2012: The Army Acquisition Executive and the JPEO JTRS outlined a plan to transition the JPEO JTRS organization to the JTNC concept.
The JPEO recommended transferring radio program responsibilities to the Service with the primary tactical radio requirements.
The JTRS Executive Steering Board continued to provide senior-leader oversight and situational awareness across the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and the Services until 2019 when the C3 Leadership Board (C3LB) was established.
The JTNC emerged from the restructuring of JPEO JTRS with a refined mission:
The mission of the JTNC is to enhance the Department of Defense's capabilities by supporting the rapid development, deployment, and sustainment of secure, interoperable, and resilient tactical communications systems. By acting as a knowledge broker for software-defined radios (SDRs), waveforms, and modular open system architecture standards, JTNC ensures effective information sharing and collaboration across the DoD.
 
Waveform Focus: Instead of developing hardware, JTNC focuses on securing and facilitating waveform development efforts - the software that dictates how radios communicate.
Information Repository: JTNC maintains the DoD Information Repository, providing access to secure, interoperable waveforms for government and authorized industry partners.
Standardization and Compliance: JTNC promotes open systems architecture and develops standards to ensure interoperability and facilitate competition. It also conducts technical assessments to certify compliance with DoD policies.
Collaboration and Governance: JTNC fosters collaboration between the military services, NSA, JITC, and industry stakeholders through the C3LB and working groups.

JTNC's Evolving Role (2014-Present): Strategic Acquisition, Cybersecurity, and Waveforms
since its inception, JTNC has continued to evolve, incorporating lessons learned from JTRS and adapting to new challenges:

Strategic Acquisition: JTNC promotes better buying power by emphasizing open systems, maximizing software reuse, and considering exportability early in the development process.

Cybersecurity Focus: With the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, JTNC prioritizes the security of waveforms and network management systems.

Electronic Protection: JTNC emphasizes robust electronic protection measures to counter evolving threats like jamming and GPS denial.

Continuing the Legacy of Interoperability: Despite facing challenges in the early years of its formation, the JTNC remained committed to fostering interoperability and leveraging the investments made in software-defined radios (SDRs) and the Software Communications Architecture (SCA). This commitment led to the development of a robust process for waveform development and certification, ensuring compatibility across different manufacturers and platforms. This emphasis built upon the Department's significant investment in SDRs, the SCA, and openly shared waveforms, fostering competitive markets to deliver radios meeting Service requirements.

The establishment of clear processes and standards by the JTNC fostered a more competitive market for military communication systems. By providing open and accessible waveform specifications and source code, the JTNC enabled a wider range of vendors to participate, driving innovation and cost-efficiency. This approach ultimately benefited the warfighter by providing access to cutting-edge communication technologies while maintaining interoperability across different echelons and Services.  Leveraging the JPEO's intellectual capital and business principles facilitated the transition to JTNC and continued the DoD's focus on interoperability and the reuse of non-proprietary waveforms.
Today, the JTNC continues to play a crucial role in ensuring secure and reliable military communications for the Department of Defense. The Center remains focused on evolving existing waveforms and developing new waveform technologies to meet the ever-changing demands of the modern battlefield.  By embracing technological advancements and promoting collaboration across industry partners, the JTNC aims to maintain its position at the forefront of military communications networking, providing the warfighter with a decisive advantage in future conflicts.
 
 
JTNC Product and Services:
The JTNC’s Product and Services Portfolios have been developed pursuant to duty imposed by Department of Defense Instructions and Statutory requirements, and to fulfill enumerated responsibilities set forth in the JTNC Charter.  The portfolios’ content reflect JTNC’s role as a waveform/radio knowledge broker across DoD. Over the years the portfolios have changed to keep abreast of changes in DoD Acquisition
The following is a partial list of JTNC’s products and services:
 

DrScan® tool - developed to help intellectual property (IP) analysts and contract managers efficiently conduct IP markings checks that verify Government entities receive the data rights being procured under contract
 
Figure 1 - DrScan® tool (Registered Trade Mark) Process Flow
 
 Joint Communications Marketplace (JCM) - is a knowledge repository for military communications products and technologies, including information on radios and subsystems, waveforms, and accessories. It is also a collaboration environment enabling the exchange of information between Government stakeholders and the Defense Industrial Base. It is intended to serve as a source of market research information and a place for Industry to inform the Government of new products and technologies, and for the Government to inform Industry of new needs.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Figure 2  - The JCM
 
 Capability Characterization - addresses key technology knowledge gaps by DoD acquisition stakeholders, the JTNC established the Capability Characterization (CC) process to analyze military communications systems and associated products, providing independent, valuable and actionable results. Using proven assessment methodologies, techniques, and best practices, JTNC's CC process delivers effective characterization analysis to DoD decision makers, requirement developers and user communities about Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) and Non-Developmental Items (NDI) radio products. As a key element of the process, JTNC's evaluation team engages directly with product vendors to discuss results, findings, and possible areas of improvement.
 
DoD Information Repository (IR) – Developed and maintained by JTNC, the DoD IR is designated by Department of Defense Instruction (DODI) 4630.09, as the authoritative storage repository for DoD waveforms and associated communication products.  The DoD IR provides secure receipt, tracking, storage, retrieval, and delivery of radio waveform and wireless communication source code and technical data (documentation) for authorized programs of record, industry, vendors, academia, and DoD research agencies.
 
Software Communications Architecture (SCA) – JTNC developed and maintains the Software Communications Architecture (SCA), an open systems framework that standardizes the software interface for military communication systems and waveforms. The standard supports interoperability, by enabling the integration of waveforms and network management software across different radio sets and platforms, ensuring seamless communication between systems developed by multiple vendors. The JTNC is responsible for sustaining and evolving the SCA to ensure compatibility, scalability, and interoperability among DoD communication systems.
 
JTNC Technology Laboratory (JTeL) The JTNC Technology Laboratory (JTeL) provides a critical conformance evaluation capability, enabling DoD stakeholders to verify implementation of DoD-approved, open standards within Software Defined Radio (SDR) products. This service leverages JTeL’s expertise to increase interoperability, enhance security, and promote reusability across DoD systems – directly supporting the Department’s Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA). JTeL conducts comprehensive compliance assessments of SDR products and tactical communications applications and develops and maintains robust test capabilities to ensure ongoing conformance to established standards. This capability reduces integration risk and lifecycle costs while accelerating the adoption of innovative technologies.
 
Exportability Analysis and License Review Services – The JTNC conducts exportability analyses and licensing reviews of wireless communication technologies to ensure compliance with DoD export control policies. This includes protecting critical technologies and providing technical recommendations for the secure export of tactical communication products through Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and commercial licenses. Major stakeholders supported include DoD CIO and Combatant Commands (COCOMs). 
 
Waveform Analysis – The JTNC analyzes waveforms to ensure that they meet interoperability, security, reusability, resiliency and exportability standards and provide operational value in accordance with DoDI 5000.02, DoDI 5000.82, and DoDI 4630.09.  The analysis includes both source code and waveform technical documentation.
 
Conclusion:
 
The transition from JPEO JTRS to JTNC marks a significant shift in the DoD's approach to military communications networking. By focusing on lessons learned and best practices from waveform development, communications standardization, and collaboration with industry partners, the JTNC aims to facilitate the rapid procurement of secure, interoperable, and affordable communication capabilities to the warfighter. While technical challenges and threats from near-peer adversaries remain, the JTNC represents a more comprehensive and collaborative approach to ensuring tactical, operational, and strategic dominance in the information age.