Summary: | Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited === The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is currently
evolving to digital communications. This change has created
a need for an analysis tool capable of analyzing digital
architectures. Traditional communications are being supplemented,
and in some cases, replaced by automated systems like
the Marine Tactical Command and Control System (MTACCS)
Older equipment, the PRC-77 and AN/VRC-12 family of radios, is
being replaced by lighter, more efficient equipment like
SINCGARS and the Digital Communications Terminal (DCT).
Protocols like the Marine Tactical System (MTS) Broadcast
Protocol are being implemented to orchestrate this new way of
communicating. To assist in the transition, this thesis modified the
Marine Corps Communications Architecture Analysis Model
(MCCAAM) so it could measure the impact of changing from voice
to digital communications. The Fidelity Enhancement Process
(FEP) , a comprehensive methodology for model upgrades, was
used to systematically modify the model. The model's usefulness
is demonstrated in an analysis example by comparing three
separate partially digital communications architectures.
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