Military Messaging

Isode provides military messaging infrastructure for SMTP and STANAG 4406 mail protocols as well as for XMPP based instant messaging and multi-user chat.

Formal Military Messaging using STANAG 4406 (& STANAG 4406 Annex E)

STANAG 4406 is the NATO Standard for formal military messaging, replacing the older ACP 127 specification. Used for both Strategic and Tactical messaging, STANAG 4406 has a number of special protocols to support tactical messaging, in particular to support very low bandwidth links such as HF radio (STANAG 4406 Annex E) and to support receivers in Emission Control (EMCON) mode who can receive but not send data.

Isode is a market leading provider of STANAG 4406 messaging infrastructure. Details are given in the STANAG 4406 Military Messaging solutions page, including gateways to ACP 127.

Instant Messaging and Multi-User Chat using XMPP

STANAG 4406 and SMTP are standards for store and forward messaging (email). Military communication is making increased use of real time (instant) messaging, both 1:1 and multi-user chat. XMPP is the Internet Standard for real time messaging and presence, and is gaining increasing military usage.

Isode M-Link XMPP server is available for both standard XMPP communications and, using an Optimized Server-to-Server protocol, for XMPP over low bandwidth links including HF Radio. M-Link provides control of messages using security labels associated with the messages the security clearances of the users.

For further information see Isode's Military XMPP Solutions page.

Formal Military Messaging over SMTP

There appears to be benefit to using SMTP for formal messaging. Isode has described what is needed to achieve this in the whitepaper [Military Messaging (MMHS) over SMTP] and has initiated work on a number of specifications needed in support of this. The first of these is “Registration of Military Message Handling System (MMHS) header fields for use in Internet Mail” which has been approved for publication as an RFC. This defines fourteen message headers, such as "MMHS-Primary-Precedence:" to extend a standard SMTP message. A number of implementations of this specification have now been made. NATO are considering adoption of this specification.

Informal Messaging using SMTP

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) messaging is ubiquitous. SMTP messaging is used widely by military organizations. This use is generally referred to as "informal messaging" to distinguish it from formal messaging used for command and control. For more information on Isode’s SMTP messaging products see Isode Internet Messaging Servers overview page.

Gateways with STANAG 4406

Isode provides two gateways between SMTP and STANAG 4406. These both provide full mappings from STANAG 4406 onto the new MMHS over SMTP capabilities:

M-Switch MIXER provides a gateway between SMTP and standard STANAG 4406.
It can also provide a full ACP 145 gateway, which provides STANAG 4406 edition 2 digital signatures and security labels and is designed to interconnect national military networks operating according to different profiles. For further details see the whitepaper [ACP 145: Isode Support of International MMHS Gateways].

Gateways are discussed in more detail on the STANAG 4406 Military Messaging page.

Constrained Bandwidth

Operation over constrained networks is vital for many military deployments. Isode offers a SMTP messaging solution based on the ACP 142 military specification. This provides optimized communication for both point to point and multicast networks, and operation in EMCON (Emission Control or Radio Silence). This can be operated over IP networks such as Satcom and fast radio links. Isode also supports direct operation of STANAG 5066 to give optimal performance for HF Radio.

For more details on protocol stacks, M-Switch operation over constrained networks and a list of relevant whitepapers see the M-Switch: Constrained Networks & HF Radios product page.

Precedence

Message precedence is critical for military operations over slower networks. Isode M-Switch supports this, with controlled grade of delivery for the six military precedence values. It also supports MINIMIZE, so that processing of lower precedence messages can be suspended. This capability can be controlled by clients using the MMHS-Primary-Precedence header. Isode is leading activity to standardize precedence handling for SMTP networks, see the IETF Draft "Simple Mail Transfer Protocol extension for Message Priorities".

Digital Signatures

Isode supports digital signatures of messages using S/MIME for SMTP messages and STANAG 4406 ed2 signatures. M-Switch can verify message signatures, strip message signatures, and add signatures to messages. This provides high flexibility for digital signature use in environments with mixed capabilities and protocols.

Security Labels

Isode provides comprehensive support for Security Labels and Security label mapping in M-Switch. For information on M-Switch use of security labels see the M-Switch product page. For information on Isode general security label capability see the Isode Security Policy, Security Label and Security Clearance Infrastructure & Management product page.

Tracking and “Fire and Forget”

To provide reliable messaging, delivery reports and read receipts can be used. These enable message tracking to record problems and to detect when messages are delayed. This can be monitored by Isode MConsole.

This capability can be used to provide a “fire and forget” capability, where the message sender can be confident that once a message is sent that it will be delivered and acted on, which is vital when messaging is used for command and control. For further information see the whitepaper [Using Message Acknowledgements for Tracking, Correlation and Fire & Forget].