The Challenges of Urban Warfare
The Russian invasion of Kyiv in February of 2022 and the corresponding conflict that has continued to ensue has provided a stark reminder that the future of warfare and combat will predominantly occur in urban environments. Maj. Brandon Scwartz stated in a thought piece he wrote on the Modern War Institute website that “…conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza teach an inconvenient lesson—that large scale combat operations (LSCO) and urban environments are linked.” He then goes on to say that “…echelons above brigade commands must first reject the myth that US forces would never fight LSCO in the urban environment. There are numerous reasons to fight in urban areas.”
Both heavily populated and capital cities serve as strategic and operational focal points, often leading to pivotal moments in warfare. They embody political authority and act as a psychological symbol of a nation’s identity.
“As powerful as our mission command systems are, they are all challenged by the environment — the complex terrain that is a… modern city.”
— Gen. Stephen Townsend, TRADOC commander
How Urban Warfare Can Disrupt Communications
Urban settings are inherently complex and challenging. Tactically, they strain communication networks and limit operational flexibility. Strategically, the intricacies of actions increase significantly, and the speed at which local and international forces can respond is greatly impeded.
Ensuring all units involved in a given conflict have a common operating picture is the key to success, yet urban warfare introduces specific challenges for command and control (C2) communications. Radio signals, Wi-Fi, and satellite communications often face obstruction from buildings, bridges, and other dense concrete and metal structures, causing communication fragmentation amongst units.
Urban environments further compound the problem by forcing large command units to disperse into smaller units, increasing the need for communications interoperability at levels lower than what is common today. The C2 structure must be flat and fast to minimize hierarchical layers and increase the speed of decision-making.
Understanding How Urban Terrain Affects Frequencies
Ultra High Frequency (UHF) is the preferred option in Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain (MOUT) due to its superior ability to penetrate buildings. Very High Frequency (VHF), while less capable of penetrating structures, can refract off surfaces, sometimes allowing signals to reach areas that UHF cannot. Satellite Communications (SATCOM), on the other hand, can be significantly hindered by obstacles blocking the terminal’s line of sight. However, despite its advantages in urban settings, UHF has limitations—its shorter wavelength makes it more susceptible to obstruction by terrain features like mountains or dense jungles, which can disrupt communication, particularly when trying to establish contact with command elements located beyond the immediate area of operations.
The Current Solution
Using existing communication infrastructures such as analog public telephone systems or unused copper-based networks can help connect brigade headquarters to troops at the tactical edge. Soldiers can secure urban communications and information systems with civilian, off-the-shelf technologies. That said, handling this type of interoperability often means carrying boxes upon boxes of additional equipment that is costly and time-consuming to set up, configure, and maintain. This problem is further magnified by the limited number of personnel available for training and support.
The REDCOM Solution
REDCOM’s Sigma software and the Sigma XRI allow units to simply and efficiently interoperate with legacy communication systems commonly found in urban environments. This gives them an asymmetrical advantage over the local threat. REDCOM specializes in creating integrated platforms with low SWaP requirements, an intuitive user interface, and the ability to provide an alternative means of communications when a cyber threat has rendered common IP-based communications systems inoperable. In scenarios that demand flexibility, such as urban warfare, it’s vital for next-gen technology to be able to leverage and interoperate with existing legacy systems and infrastructure, and REDCOM Sigma does just that.
Use Case: Using REDCOM Sigma in an Urban Combat Scenario
In a congested urban battlefield, enemy forces deploy sophisticated jamming techniques and exploit the dense infrastructure to disrupt wireless communications. With traditional radio networks severely limited or entirely compromised, the military unit must rapidly establish a reliable, alternative communication channel to maintain command and control. By effectively implementing a PACE (Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency) plan, the soldiers can bridge gaps between isolated units and the central Operation Center.
To do this, the soldiers deploy the REDCOM XRI-400 equipped with the optional FXO adapter to access the city’s existing analog telephone infrastructure. The adapter converts one of the DB-15 ports on the XRI into an FXO (LSRD) trunk interface, effectively linking the system to a local CO/PBX analog telephone line. This allows the soldiers to forgo the need to propagate with a “mil-standard” frequency. A near-peer adversary likely possesses the technology to detect and locate those frequencies. The natural landline/cell network will be a mere blimp on the radar compared to regional norms.
At a secure facility with robust, uncompromised infrastructure, an operator using a laptop loaded with the Sigma C2 Console then creates and manages persistent communication patches that facilitate seamless vertical and adjacent exchanges between command levels and units. This approach not only ensures a reliable communication chain by bypassing the vulnerabilities of wireless networks but also minimizes the equipment footprint and enables rapid deployment, making it a critical asset in high-stakes urban warfare scenarios.
Real-World Parallel: Lessons from Operation Enduring Freedom
This approach mirrors the ingenuity displayed during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002, when Marines in Kandahar, led by SSgt Dennis Lalena, utilized a building’s existing wiring to provide telephone, secure and unclassified email services, and other communications for over 3,600 US and coalition forces. These Marines rapidly established a robust communication network by minimizing the need for additional field wire. This strategy can be adapted in urban environments to maintain a resilient chain of command even when conventional wireless channels fail. While successful in their objective, REDCOM Sigma would have made this process quicker and easier to execute.
Where to Learn More
In urban warfare, where hostile jamming and environmental obstacles frequently disrupt wireless networks, the integration of REDCOM Sigma with the XRI-400 and FXO adapter provides a robust, low-footprint solution. This setup ensures continuous, secure communication by leveraging pre-existing analog infrastructure, thus safeguarding mission-critical operations and maintaining the fluidity of command in challenging urban landscapes.
The future of warfare will increasingly be fought in congested cities, and REDCOM is here to support soldiers in their mission. If you are interested in learning more, send us an email or fill out the form on our contact page, and we will be in touch shortly after.
