MODEL DESIGN FOR A BATTLEGROUP INTRANET USING A UAV

In this thesis the groundwork for an unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) supporting the communications architecture of a US Naval Battle Group is proposed. The Global Hawk UAV described in detail is used as an example of a viable system. A system using a UAV as a central node in a battle group intranet could enhance the communications within a battle group. The preliminary steps required to demonstrate this concept using a model based on the OPNET software program are defined. The model presented is the one we recommend modifying to research this concept further. Finally, the requirements for transitioning the existing model to one that can test the operational concept proposed in this thesis are given.