The Distributed Tactical Communications System
1 Overview
The Distributed Tactical Communication System (DTCS) provides Beyond Line-Of-Sight (BLOS), Over-The-Horizon (OTH), and On-
The-Move (OTM) one-to-many tactical voice and data communications without the need for any local ground-based infrastruc-
ture. DTCS is managed by the DTCS Program Management Office (PMO), within the Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services (EMSS)
Division under the Commercial Satellite Communications (COMSATCOM) Center in the Defense Information Systems Agency’s
(DISA) Network Services (NS) Directorate.
DTCS capabilities include:
Regional one-to-many push-to-talk encrypted voice and data transmission
Regional broadcast and global Position Location Information (PLI)
Broadcast and point-to-point regional text messaging
DTCS is an evolving service and additional capabilities may be added to the DTCS system in the future.
2 A Scalable Solution for Real World Scenarios
Missions today require units to operate as smaller, more agile forces across widely distributed geographic areas, in often
rugged terrain. These dismounted units frequently cannot maintain line-of-sight communications with headquarters (HQ), let
alone with other units operating even a few miles away. This not only limits HQ’s ability to track dismounted Warfighters, but
also imposes severe limitations on the Warfighter’s situational DTCS Capabilities Summary
awareness that is vital to both safety and mission success. Attempts to
solve these problems with traditional SATCOM solutions are impracti- Secure one-to-many voice and data communications
cal, as these solutions require large and/or stationary antennas, high Dependable tactical satellite communications in a classic
power radios, and line-of-sight to the satellites involved. DTCS was Push-to-Talk (PTT), handheld tactical radio.
designed specifically to address these capability gaps. To use the DTCS
service, all that is required is a DTCS service account and a DTCS OTH and OTM tactical operation enables units operating
compatible radio with a view of the sky. DTCS radio configurations are at extended distances to maintain communications with
also available for vehicle installations and for use in Tactical Operations higher, adjacent and subordinate units, enhancing
Centers (TOCs). mission planning and execution
PTT capability anywhere in the world provides reliable
DTCS is a highly scalable system consisting of BLOS communications without requiring establishment
thousands of independent user communities of more traditional SATCOM infrastructure
or “Nets.” The DTCS Radio-Only (RO) Tactical Real-time situational awareness with ability to transmit
Radio™ will only transmit and receive Position Location Information back to the Mission
information on the Nets to which it has been Management Center or other location
assigned, allowing for endless configurations
that can be customized to any mission. DTCS Centralized and distributed radio configuration,
also supports the ability for Position Location maintenance and control - highly scalable
Information (PLI) and text messages to be Automatic over-the-air management of encryption keys
broadcast within a Net and for tracking Net
member locations on a map-based display.
RO Tactical Radio™ DTCS provides a complete set of tools that allow organizations to manage and configure their own
DTCS assets in the field. This includes the DTCS Net Manager Web Portal, a secure web-based
interface that allows configuration, monitoring, and control of an organization’s radios and Nets.
3 The DTCS Architecture
DTCS utilizes the Iridium™ constellation of satellites, as well as, DISA’s EMSS earth terminals and gateway. Iridium’s constella-
tion provides satellite coverage everywhere on earth as long as the user’s radio has a view of the sky. Further, by using DISA’s
EMSS earth terminals and gateway, all ground-based DTCS services and communications are controlled by DISA. DTCS
information does not pass through Iridium’s commercial gateway.
Each DTCS user can communicate with other DTCS users configured on the same Net, and DTCS radios can participate in up to
15 Nets at the same time. Each Net typically spans a geographic region of about 100 miles, with expanded Nets of approxi-
mately 250 miles available with approval from the DTCS Program Management Office.
DTCS voice traffic stays within a Net. Using the Push-to-Talk (PTT) capability of the DTCS RO Tactical Radio, voice traf-
fic is transmitted to the Iridium satellite and instantaneously broadcasted to other radios on the same Net as the
transmitting radio. Voice traffic is not transmitted back to the gateway.
DTCS data traffic stays within a Net. Data traffic is transmitted to the Iridium satellite and instantaneously sent to one
or all other radios on the same Net as the transmitting radio. Data traffic is not transmitted back to the gateway.
DTCS PLI can be configured for broadcast and/or global distribution.
With Broadcast PLI, the location information is sent to all other radios on the same Net.
With Global PLI, the location information is sent back to the Mission Management System (MMC) or other back-
office system for further distribution.
The main tool used to manage an organization’s DTCS services and devices is the DTCS Net Manager Web Portal. This Internet
and NIPRnet accessible secure web site provides complete control over an organization’s Nets and radios in a real-world
mirroring hierarchical manner. DTCS also provides a field tool that uses the DTCS system to provide management features for
disadvantaged users who do not have any other network access.
4 Getting Started
To get started using the DTCS service requires DTCS compatible radios and accessories and satellite air-time for those radios
(which is priced at a flat rate per month). Service and equipment can be ordered from the DISA Direct Order Entry (DDOE)
web site at https://www.disadirect.disa.mil/. For more information, email the DTCS PMO at disa.meade.ns.mbx.dtcs-program-
[email protected].
