Flexible Network Interface (FNI): A Mission-centric Integration Framework for Next Generation DoD SATCOM Networks

Our warfighters rely on flexible, resilient, high performance, and global DoD SATCOM networks to operate effectively in a contested, degraded and operationally-limited (CDO) environment. Today, a multitude of DoD networks exist as stovepipes with disparate networking architectures, cybersecurity requirements, management and control tools. We believe that Internet Protocol convergence becomes insufficient to achieve interoperability in the military mission networking context. As the future battlespace involves multiple domain capabilities and assets that must be assembled within mission relevant timelines, operate in unison, and be adaptive to battlespace, a new model is needed to deliver high performance multi-mission and multi-domain data transport. The Flexible Network Interface (FNI) is a robust integration framework that deploys enabling technologies to operationalize heterogeneous networks (DoD and commercial). It delivers consistent end user experience, architecture resiliency, and optimized performance; leveraging heterogeneous host networks and commercial managed services across space, air, ground, and sea. This paper provides an overview of the USSF SSC FNI concept, which is being matured through a series of capability prototyping and demonstration initiatives. We describe the FNI framework's design considerations, and its associated architecture instantiations, key functional elements and interfaces. Several important technology requirements are highlighted, which motivate targeted research and development. Finally, the paper summarizes future work to address open issues across technology, standards, implementations, and deployment.