# Harnessing the Potential of Emerging Technologies to Break Down Barriers in Tactical Communications
## 3 Emerging Technologies as Potential Candidates: Overview  
In this study, we identified a specific set of these technologies, as depicted in Figure 2, aimed at enhancing tactical communications. The primary focus lies in delivering increased bandwidth and heightened levels of security and encryption. Below, a concise overview of each is presented to establish their relevance in military settings. It is important to note that this list is not exhaustive, but rather curated based on criteria for enhancing the tactical network. For more detailed technical information on these technologies, one can refer to dedicated literature. Additionally, future works may incorporate additional technologies. Figure 1: Waveforms used in tactical communications. * **Internet of things (IoT)**: This is a network of everyday physical objects connected to other device systems with IoT connectivity to collect, store and share data. This technology has been around since the fourth generation (4G), but with advances in data processing, it is becoming more and more powerful and promising for new use cases. In the literature, we can find many references, of which we have selected the following as representative [25; 26; 27]. In these surveys, the reader can find an extension of information about IoT. The main characteristics of IoT are as follows: 1. **Connectivity** IoT devices can be connected via radio waves, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, etc. In addition, one of the most used communication technologies currently used is NB-IoT, which allows wide, long-range coverage. 2. **Scalability** These devices are used for different scenarios, from smart home automation to large factory automation. 3. **Intelligence** IoT devices are used to store and share data. Thus, through the development of machine learning, it is possible to manage massive data to obtain highly useful information. 4. **Power** Most devices are extremely small and are designed with low-power consumption technologies, powered by small batteries that last for years. 5. **Security** The information handled by these devices is increasingly sensitive, which means an increase in the number of vulnerabilities that can come to affect them. All this makes it essential to keep all the information as secure as possible by protecting the integrity and confidentiality of the data, such as data encryption and cloud security. There is a new term, military Internet of things (MIoT), which refers to the IoT for military applications such as weapons, robots, or vehicles [28]. Some MIoT applications are military equipment logistics to facilitate efficiency, visibility, and military equipment. Some MIoT applications are as follows: 1. **Military equipment logistics**: The adoption of MIoT can enhance military operational efficiency and visibility, for example, through the implementation of radio frequency identification tags and standardized barcodes. These technologies  
Figure 2: List of emerging technologies for tactical communications. enable the tracking of individual supplies and offer real-time visibility into the supply chain. 2. **Battlefield knowledge**: The IoT can serve a crucial function by gathering, processing, and promptly delivering synthesized information for swift decision making on the battlefield. Within _command_, _control_, _communications_, _computers_ (C4) and _intelligence_, _surveillance_, and _reconnaissance_ (C4 ISR) systems, millions of IoT sensors can be integrated across various platforms, including UAVs, radars, infrared sensors, wearable devices, and more. This empowers combat troops with real-time data, enhancing coordination and control within the operational area. 3. **Personal detection soldier healthcare**: Through the integration of IoT sensors measuring vital signs, like temperature, blood pressure, blood glucose levels, and heart rate via body area networks, it becomes possible to monitor the health of soldiers in real time. This system can promptly notify soldiers of any abnormal conditions, such as dehydration, elevated heart rate, or low blood sugar.