Applicability of Instant Messaging in
the Military Command and Control
Systems
Author: Juha Vermaja
Superviser: Jorma Jormakka
Instructor: Marko Luoma, Lic.Sc.
Helsinki University of Technology
Networking laboratory
Contents
•
Introduction
•
Battlefield command and control systems
•
Instant Messaging systems
•
IM applicability to C2 usage
•
Demonstration
•
Conclusions
Introduction
•Many different IM applications available for free of charge
•IETF effords has created specifications and standards
•Security plays an important role in IM environments
•The requirements for the next generation IM systems are
increasing
•The purpose of this thesis is to study the applicability and
possibility of using commercially available IM systems in
military C2IS (Command and Control Information Systems)
C2 Systems
•Command and Control (C2) messages are text messages used in
military systems for data providing
•C2 messages can be created manually or automatically
•Receiving, interpretation and presentation can be automated
•C2 messages are independent of the physical layer
•Building new C2 systems is done parallel to old ones so that
there is always one mechanism ready to be deployed
•C2 systems are not easily replaced by newer systems due to the
switching costs
C2 Systems Cont...
Situation now:
•Many countries have developed their own C2
messaging solutions including NATO countries
•The interoperability is a constant concern and no
specific standards have been fully adopted
•Some standards are agreed upon, for example
NATO’s Allied Data Publication No. 3 (AdatP-3)
and United States Message Text Format (USMTF)
•AdatP-3 provides rules, constructions and
vocabulary for message text formats
C2 Systems Cont...
Situation in near future:
•In the year 1998 several countries started a joint
operation called Multilateral Interoperability
Programme (MIP)
•MIP aim is to achieve an international interoperability
of C2IS in order to support combined and joint
operations
•MIP will serve as a guideline for future developments
•At the moment MIP is in an implementation phaze
Instant Messaging Systems
•
The idea of Instant Messaging comes from the Internet Relay
Chat (IRC)
•
Instant Messaging (IM) system is a text-based message
system that allows the user to exchange short messages in
real-time
•
Presence awareness in its most simple form means that a user
knows if another user is online or not
•
The biggest problem in IM systems is the lack of standards
•
Many applications are proprietary
•
Several third party applications have been created that can
handle the communication between proprietary solutions
IETF Standardization
•IETF has created a standard called Instant Messaging &
Presence Protocol (IMPP)
•IMPP working group has produced several RFC’s and drafts
defining protocols and data formats needed to build global
end-user presence awareness, notification and IM system
•2 Major IETF RFC’s are:
•Model for presence and instant messaging (RFC
2778)
•Instant messaging / presence protocol requirements
(RFC 2779)
IMPP Protocols
•Several candidates have been competing to get a position of
an official standard of IM systems with open standard
protocols
•Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Jabber are the strongest
candidates
•Many applications already use SIP or Jabber
•Interoperability between SIP and Jabber is achieved by using
gateways
Applicability to C2IS
•Security
•Most IM applications do not use any encryption
methods
•All the consumer applications use plain text
authentication and messages are sent in plain text
format
•Flexibility and scalability
•IM systems work in client-server environment
•Scalability is not an problem
Applicability Scenarios
•Temporary and fast to build
•For example in disaster area where all the other
communication systems have been destroyed
•Automated systems
•A computer can interpret the messages
•Convenience
•The usage of presence awareness
Demonstration
•The demonstration was done in a closed network that
corresponds to a simple wireless local area network
•The purpose of the demonstration was to study the behavior of
the IM applications and the traffic
•The results
•Unencrypted messages could be easily captured
•The network topology could be discovered
•A conversation that includes 2 – 10 messages is only
14970 bytes per participant
Conclusions
•Interoperable standards are needed
•Both IMPP protocols (SIP and Jabber) will stay in IM systems
and cooperate via the gateways
•IM systems can offer many advantages
•Security is a big problem
•COTS available IM applications do not satisfy wholly the
needs of the C2 communication -> Specified applications are
needed to make the communication easy and practical
•Specified applications with specific platforms are needed in
order to build automated systems
Questions?
Thank you!