Aerospace & Defense Technology - September 2023 - 13

nication systems due to its higher data
transfer rates and increased capacity.
RFoF technology offers a distinct advantage
here by converting RF into optical
signals traveling long distances over fiber
optic cable, without attenuation and signal
degradation. This is preferable to
transmitting over coaxial cable, which is
illustrated in figure 1.
Furthermore, RFoF systems can supRF
Attenuation - Coaxial Cable vs. Fiber (to 40 Ghz)
10
1
port higher bandwidths, accommodating
the ever-increasing data demands of
modern military operations. With the
proliferation of high-resolution sensors,
sophisticated radars, and advanced
communication equipment, the need
for bandwidth scalability has become
paramount. RFoF links ability to support
higher data rates ensures that the A&D
industries can keep up with evolving
technological demands.
The fiber
media is not bandwidth limited so
future upgrades do not necessitate infrastructure
rebuild.
Another benefit of RFoF is it bypasses
the encoding and decoding process
associated with digital communications,
which introduces latency and creates
more security vulnerabilities. Consider
all the important communication
that begins over the air including military
radar, avionics, cellular and satellite
communications, GPS and GNSS, etc.
RFoF converts those RF signals to light
waves without introducing other processors
that allow " listening " at both
endpoints. Fiber is nearly impossible to
intercept without physically locating
and tapping it. The importance of security
in A&D needs no explanation, but
the stakes grow even higher when discussing
sabotaging autonomous weapons,
drones, and vehicles. RFoF is also
used today in SCIFs (sensitive compartmentalized
information facilities) to
establish completely secure Wi-Fi for
similar reasons.
RFoF: Ideal to Support
Communication in Harsh
Environments
RFoF technology exhibits high resilience
in the face of physical damage or
environmental hazards, which is a standard
expectation for the majority of
RG-58
RG-6
0.1
LMR-400
LMR-600
LMR-900
Heliax 1.25 "
Fiber, <0.7 db/Km
0.01
0.1
0.52.5
RF Frequency (GHz)
Figure 1. The chart shows why it is ideal to transmit conversion of RF into optical sigals traveling long
distances over fiber optic cables as opposed to coaxial cable.
A&D communication. Traditional RF
systems may suffer from signal degradation
or complete loss when subjected to
harsh conditions like extreme temperatures,
moisture, lightning, or radiation.
Conversely, fiber used in RFoF is inherently
durable and can withstand adverse
environments, ensuring continued
communication even in the most challenging
circumstances.
For example, many of the Navy's
unmanned surface vessels (USV) use
waveguides to transport Ku-Band CDL
communications payloads between
radome mounted high above deck of a
ship and equipment rooms situated
within the hulls of ships. However,
rough ocean environments and corrosion
from saltwater causes significant
waveguide interference because they
are fragile and must be kept extremely
clean and dry. Using optical fiber cables
as a replacement to transmit these payloads
is more suitable for these conditions.
The negative impact of communication
downtime on unmanned
vessels only becomes greater as the fleet
grows in scale.
Beyond physical damage or the environment,
conventional RF systems are
also susceptible to interference from
electromagnetic pulses (EMPs), which
Aerospace & Defense Technology, September 2023
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can disrupt communication and compromise
mission-critical data. RFoF
technology's transmission of optical signals
through fiber provides inherent
immunity to electromagnetic interference,
safeguarding vital communication
links from electronic warfare
threats and enabling uninterrupted
information exchange.
RFoF has emerged as a game-changing
technology for A&D communication.
Its ability to extend communicat
ion ranges, immunity t o
electromagnetic interference, enhanced
security, low latency and high bandwidth
make it indispensable for modern
A&D operations. However, successful
implementation of RFoF solutions in
this sector will depend on suppliers
with a flexible technical platform that
can be cost-effectively tailored by a specific
mission/application. As technology
continues to advance, RFoF is poised
to play an even more significant role in
ensuring seamless, secure, and reliable
communication for the military and
aerospace industries.
This article was written by Meir Bartur,
President and CEO of Optical Zonu
Corporation. For more information,
visit www.opticalzonu.com.
13
12.5
RF Attenuation (dB/100 feet)

http://www.opticalzonu.com http://mobilityengineeringtech.com

Aerospace & Defense Technology - September 2023

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