ARFHL Tactical Wi-Fi HaLow Mesh Network

1. Product Description

ARFHL is a portable Wi-Fi HaLow (IEEE 802.11ah) mesh network providing secure IP transport for messages, telemetry, images, and opportunistic video. The system is designed to operate where traditional tactical radios and centralized command networks fail.

ARFHL prioritizes survivability, simplicity, and manufacturability over peak throughput. It deliberately avoids proprietary waveforms and closed ecosystems in favor of open standards and crypto agility.

Technical Summary

Parameter	Specification
Frequency	Sub-1 GHz regional bands
Range	>1 km per hop (terrain dependent)
Throughput	150 kbps – 86.7 Mbps (adaptive)
Topology	Self-forming mesh, optional backbone
Security	WPA3 + hybrid PQ key exchange
Power	Multi-day active, multi-year standby
Interoperability	Standard IP (IPv4/IPv6)

2. Doctrine-Aligned Use Cases

Platoon Level (0–2 km)

Text and command messaging between squads
Still image transfer (UAV snapshots, ISR photos)
Blue-force tracking via low-rate telemetry
Operation without a fixed command vehicle

Company Level (2–10 km, multi-hop)

Mesh backbone formed by ARFHL-AP gateways
Forward elements remain connected despite node losses
Intermittent video bursts from ISR assets
Local autonomy when higher echelons are unreachable

Battalion Level (Distributed)

ARFHL used as resilient last-mile and lateral network
Integration with SATCOM or fiber when available
Delay-tolerant networking for fragmented battlespace

Operational assumption: Command continuity must survive loss of vehicles, gateways, and spectrum superiority.

3. Current System Limitations vs ARFHL Improvements

Observed Issue (Ukraine)	Typical Current Systems	ARFHL Response
Centralized nodes destroyed	Star topology collapses	Fully distributed mesh, no single point of failure
EW detection and targeting	Constant beacons, high RF signature	Adaptive duty cycle, low-power sub-GHz operation
High logistics burden	Short battery life, proprietary spares	Low power design, COTS components
Vendor lock-in	Closed waveforms, restricted devices	Open IEEE + IP backbone
Training overhead	Weeks of signal training	Hours-level operator training
Crypto obsolescence risk	Fixed algorithms	Crypto-agile, post-quantum ready

4. Device Management and Lifecycle Control

Device Management

Local device management server (no cloud dependency)
Role-based access control (operator / signal officer)
Bulk provisioning via mission profiles
Network health and link quality visualization

Firmware and Configuration

OTA updates supported in connected environments
Air-gapped update capability via removable media
Cryptographic material managed independently of firmware

Capture and Compromise Handling

Key rotation and node revocation
No centralized secrets stored on gateways
Limited intelligence value upon physical capture

5. Costed BOM and Unit Economics (Indicative)

Estimated Bill of Materials (ARFHL-AP)

Component	Estimated Unit Cost (EUR)
Wi-Fi HaLow SoC + RF front-end	35–50
MCU / Control processor	8–12
Memory (RAM + Flash)	6–10
Power management + regulators	5–8
Industrial PCB + assembly	12–18
Rugged enclosure + connectors	20–30
Total BOM (approx.)	86–128

Unit Economics (Order of Magnitude)

Target unit production cost: < 200 EUR
Indicative procurement price: low hundreds EUR
Order-of-magnitude cheaper than SDR-based tactical radios

Cost structure enables mass deployment and attrition tolerance, not boutique low-volume procurement.

6. Manufacturing Readiness and Scaling

MRL	Description
MRL 4–5	Validated prototypes, field trials in contested RF environments
MRL 6	Low-rate initial production, environmental and shock testing
MRL 7–8	Scalable manufacturing using civilian EMS providers
MRL 9	Sustained production with multiple supply sources

7. Security Architecture

End-to-end encryption (WPA3 baseline)
Hybrid classical + post-quantum key exchange
Algorithm agility without hardware replacement
No mandatory external infrastructure

Security design assumes persistent compromise attempts and prioritizes rapid recovery and survivability over theoretical perfect secrecy.