These specific issues have a number of different requirements for routing protocols to aid routing during combat operations. The routing protocol should be able to send information through multiple paths to ensure the throughput of the network. In situations that demand a high quality of service, the protocol that can ensures the quality of the network is of great value.

Therefore, it becomes extremely crucial that the routing protocol must have the most desirable characteristics for the hostile environment. Likewise, the size of the network and the number of participating nodes in the network also play an important role and can affect almost every aspect of the choice of protocol characteristics. At present, a reactive protocol with multicast capabilities and a mesh-based structure could be a good choice to support routing during combat operations.

Supporting combat operations using mobile ad-hoc networks is an interesting aspect of mobile computing. In fact, the very existence of mobile ad-hoc networks were based on the idea of supporting different military operations.

It was back in 1970s when they were first implemented to assist in various combat operations. However, such operations now have many more requirements in the field of mobile ad-hoc networks than these networks normally meet in other applications areas.

Dr. Humayun Bakht completed his Ph.D at the School of Computing and Mathematics in Liverpool at John Moores University. Prior to his current course of studies, he has successfully completed his MSc Software Engineering and BSc Electronics Engineering from University of Liverpool UK and Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology in Karachi, Pakistan. Humayun's research interest is mobile ad-hoc networks, in particular, the development of a new routing algorithm for this type of networking. He can be reached at humayunbakht@yahoo.co.uk and you can visit his Web site at http://www.geocities.com/humayunbakht/.