United States Marine Corps (USMC) Enroute Airborne Broadband Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4) Support

The Marine Corps Enroute C4 requirement is for airborne satellite communications
(SATCOM) services. These services are sold as subscriptions known as Simultaneous
Operations (SIMOPs). SIMOPs provide Troop Commanders and Mission Force with
‘Office in the Sky’ capabilities—uninterruptible and seamless connectivity to networks;
voice, video, and data; and capabilities available in their office environments—while
traveling via aircraft. Marine Corps Enroute C4 requires multiple worldwide Ku-band
SIMOPs with varying service levels. These SIMOPs are required to meet Troop
Commanders and Mission Force Command, Senior Leader Command, Control, and
Communications System - Airborne (SLC3S-A) requirements for airborne command
and control communications on the move. This Marine Corps requirement must
provide global coverage of internet access at up to 2 megabits per second (Mbps) on
Return Link and 2 Mbps on Forward Link. Managed private communication services
are in support of and shall be compatible with the KC-130 and MV-22 Hatch Mount
Terminals. The USMC system does not support any alternative Beyond Line of Sight
(BLOS) broadband connections due to the need for compatibility with installed
ArcLight 2 modems. SIMOP service levels are defined by the data rate, or a range of
possible data rates, in Mbps for the forward link (earth terminal to aircraft) and return
link (aircraft to earth terminal). SIMOPs include space segment, teleport services,
access to the public internet, and backhaul to a Government point of presence (PoP) in
a single subscription service. Marine Corps Enroute C4 also requires the SIMOP
subscriptions to be shared and transferable among aircraft.