Validation of UAS Command and Control Link Switchover Internetworking and Security Requirements

As the aviation community integrates Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS), one of the technical issues that must be handled concerns the Command and Control (C2) Link from the remote pilot Control Station (CS) to the UAS. The C2 Link can switch between carriers during the UAS mission. For example, the link may switch from a terrestrial network to a satellite-based communications network (SATCOM), or from one terrestrial network to another. Requirements for interworking and security of the C2 Link switchover between two point-to-point Line of Sight (LOS) links, switchover between LOS terrestrial C2 Link and a SATCOM network, and switchover between Radio Line of Sight (RLOS) terrestrial C2 Link and a commercial terrestrial cellular network have been developed, and this paper discusses the validation of those requirements.