The Iris Digital Communications System, also known as the Tactical Command, Control, and Communications System (TCCCS), is a tactical communication system used by the

Canadian Army The Canadian Army (french: Armée canadienne) is the command (military formation), command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases acr ...

. It was a pioneering system that integrated voice and data communications via the

Internet Protocol The Internet Protocol (IP) is the network layer communications protocol in the Internet protocol suite for relaying datagrams across network boundaries. Its routing function enables internetworking, and essentially establishes the Internet. ...

and ST-II protocol. Elements of the Iris system, together with the High-capacity data radio, later formed the foundation of the British Army's Bowman communications system. The Iris system was originally conceived in the early 1970s, with a contract signed to

Computing Devices Canada General Dynamics Mission Systems - Canada, formerly Computing Devices Canada, is a technology-based electronic systems, systems integration, and in-service support to defence organizations and public security markets in Canada and abroad. Its pare ...

(now General Dynamics) as system integrator in April 1991. The complete Iris system was delivered to the

Department of National Defence Department of Defence or Department of Defense may refer to: Current departments of defence * Department of Defence (Australia) * Department of National Defence (Canada) * Department of Defence (Ireland) * Department of National Defense (Philippin ...

in November 2003, for a total cost of $2 billion Canadian. Iris is an integrated voice and data distribution system that provides secure and survivable communications. It provides end-to-end services across a variety of tactical radios, telephones, computers, and fiber-optic, wireless, and satellite networks. All told, the Iris system integrates more than 200 types of equipment, including 15,000 radios, 1,500 data terminals, and three major software applications. Its components are installed in approximately 5,000 armored and soft-skinned vehicles. Major Iris subsystems are as follows: * Combat Net Radios (CNR) - a full range of tactical radios supporting voice and data communications in the HF,

VHF Very high frequency (VHF) is the ITU designation for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves (radio waves) from 30 to 300 megahertz (MHz), with corresponding wavelengths of ten meters to one meter. Frequencies immediately below VH ...

, and

UHF Ultra high frequency (UHF) is the ITU designation for radio frequencies in the range between 300 megahertz (MHz) and 3 gigahertz (GHz), also known as the decimetre band as the wavelengths range from one meter to one tenth of a meter ...

bands, including combat net radios, point-to-point, ship-to-shore, air-ground-air, and long range radios. This radio equipment can be deployed in vehicles, ships, or manpack configurations. * Information Distribution System (IDS) - the heart of the Iris System, as it integrates all the components into a unified tactical command, control, and communications network. It serves users at all levels of command in a variety of vehicle configurations, including formation headquarters, tactical command posts, certain armored vehicles, and other selected command vehicles. Its network routers were designed and implemented by

BBN Technologies Raytheon BBN (originally Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc.) is an American research and development company, based next to Fresh Pond in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. In 1966, the Franklin Institute awarded the firm the Frank P. Brown ...

under subcontract to Computing Devices Canada. * Iris Trunk System (ITS) - extends the range of tactical communications to strategic, allied, or commercial networks. It operates over fibre optic cables and

and SHF Line-of-Sight Radio Relays. * Long Range Communications System (LRCS) - provides extended range communications to commanders in the field via

satellite A satellite or artificial satellite is an object intentionally placed into orbit in outer space. Except for passive satellites, most satellites have an electricity generation system for equipment on board, such as solar panels or radioiso ...

and HF facilities * Iris System Management (ISM) - supports communication management functions, with subsystems including the Communication Management System, Cryptographic Material Management System, and IDS Network Management System. * Tactical Message Handling System (TMHS) - e-mail and messaging services, with a store and forward capability for mobile users.

References

* "Canadian digitization: radical beginning and pragmatic follow-on", Terrill Kim Grant, ''Proc. SPIE'' 4037, ''Digitization of the Battlespace V and Battlefield Biomedical Technologies II'', 4 August 2000. {{doi, 10.1117/12.395031 * "An Opaque Window: An Overview of Some Commitments Made by the Government of Canada Regarding the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces, 1 January 2000 – 31 December 2004", pages 20–25. * Iris Digital Communications System. * "Seamless communications: the challenge of tactical command and control", ''Military and Aerospace Electronics'', January 1, 1997. * "U.K. Communications On Target", ''Signal'', November 2001. * ''Frontline'', vol 9, no. 3, 2012. Military communications of Canada