MIL-STD-188-203-1A

Abstract

The purpose of this document is to establish technical standards and design objectives (DOs) that are necessary to ensure interoperability and to promote commonality for communications equipment and subsystems used in TADIL A (see APPENDIX C). Another purpose of this document is to establish acceptable overall system performance and maximum flexibility of system layout in order to satisfy diverse user requirements without the restrictions caused by interface and incompatibility problems. Standard message formats are not included in this document. The TADIL A message formats are contained in JCS-PUB-10, Tactical Command and Control and Communication System Standards. <br>This document is applicable to the design and development of new equipment, assemblages, and subsystems used in TADIL A. This document is applicable also to the engineering and operation of existing TADIL A facilities. It is not intended that existing TADIL A facilities be immediately converted to comply with the standards contained in this document. New TADIL A facilities and those undergoing major modification or rehabilitation shall comply with the standards contained in this document subject to the applicable requirements of current procurement regulations. TADIL A can be used over common long-haul and tactical communication circuits. In this case, both this standard and MIL-STD-188-100 shall apply. <br>The main objectives of this document are to provide subsystem performance requirements that ensure interoperation of equipment and subsystems consistent with military requirements and to achieve the necessary degree of performance and interoperation in the most economical way. These objectives will be accomplished by continuing efforts in the following areas: <br>a. Standardizing user-to-user performance characteristics. <br>b. Standardizing the type of signals at various interface points in the applicable subsystem. <br>c. Specifying maximum permissible degradation of a signal in the process of transmission, and allocating the permissible degradation among various parts of a system. <br>d. Establishing performance parameters and operating features of equipment that govern the interface characteristics with subsystems in which the TADIL A equipment will be used. <br>e. Defining performance parameters without specifying the technology that should be used to obtain the required performance. <br>An additional objective of this document is to prevent proliferation of equipment serving the same or a similar function. The variety of equipment shall be the minimum necessary to effectively support the missions of the tactical forces in accordance with Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) 4630.5, Compatibility and Commonality of Equipment for Tactical Command and Control, and Communications. <br>The parameters and other requirements specified in this document are mandatory system standards (See APPENDIX A) if the word "shall" is used in connection with the parameter value or requirement under consideration. Nonmandatory DOs are indicated as optional by the word "should" in connection with the parameter value or requirement under consideration. For a definition of the terms System Standard and Design Objective, see FED-STD-1037. Information paragraphs, shown as notes, have been included to better define certain methods currently in use with TADILs.