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Master'sDefense, Military Engineering & Land Systems Applications open

Master’s in Communications, C4ISR & PNT Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in communications engineering, C4ISR and PNT, structured in 12 modules covering C4ISR architecture, tactical and strategic communications, ISR sensors, information exploitation, GNSS and PNT resilience, cyber defence and simulation, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Design integrated, scalable C4ISR architectures.

02

Size tactical and strategic communications networks.

03

Select ISR sensors and information exploitation strategies.

04

Apply the fundamentals of GNSS systems and inertial navigation.

05

Assess the resilience of positioning and timing services.

06

Integrate cybersecurity into C4ISR systems.

07

Plan the simulation and testing of information systems.

Profile

Who it's for

  • C4ISR systems engineers looking to broaden their command, control and ISR expertise.
  • Navigation and PNT engineers moving into integrated C4ISR systems.
  • Communications engineers working on tactical, satellite or critical networks.
  • Information fusion analysts who want a stronger engineering foundation.
  • Information systems architects in defence and security.
  • Infrastructure resilience specialists dealing with GNSS and timing dependencies.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the defence and security sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • STANAG 4559 (NATO Standard ISR Library Interface, NSILI)
  • Directive (EU) 2022/2557 (resilience of critical entities)
  • NATO Architecture Framework v4 (NAF, enterprise architecture framework)
  • RTCA DO-229 (SBAS airborne equipment performance standards)
  • ISO/IEC 27001 (information security management systems)
  • Esquema Nacional de Seguridad, RD 311/2022 (Spanish National Security Framework)
  • IEEE 1588 (Precision Time Protocol, PTP)
  • STK (Systems Tool Kit)
  • RTKLIB
  • ns-3
  • QGIS
  • MATLAB
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1C4ISR components: command, control, communications, computing and ISR
  2. 1.2Historical evolution of C4ISR systems
  3. 1.3Network-centric architectures
  4. 1.4Sensor-to-decision-maker information chain
  5. 1.5Capability requirements and civil scenarios
  6. 1.6Integration with PNT
  7. 1.7NAF and UAF frameworks applied
  8. 1.8Allied interoperability
  9. 1.9Ethics in the use of information
  10. 1.10Case study: C4ISR architecture for maritime surveillance
  1. 2.1Hierarchical network architecture
  2. 2.2Tactical radios and waveforms
  3. 2.3Tactical data links
  4. 2.4Military and commercial satellite communications
  5. 2.5Backbone and transport networks
  6. 2.6Converged IP networks
  7. 2.7Quality of service and prioritisation
  8. 2.8DIL networks: disconnected and intermittent
  9. 2.9Communications planning
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: VHF/UHF link budget in MATLAB
  1. 3.1Deployable computing architectures
  2. 3.2Tactical cloud and edge computing
  3. 3.3Virtualisation and containers
  4. 3.4Distributed databases
  5. 3.5Middleware and services
  6. 3.6Software engineering for critical systems
  7. 3.7Information systems cybersecurity
  8. 3.8Configuration management
  9. 3.9High-availability systems
  10. 3.10Lab: deploying services on lightweight Kubernetes
  1. 4.1Electro-optical and infrared sensors
  2. 4.2Surveillance radar and SAR
  3. 4.3Signals sensors: concepts and legal framework
  4. 4.4Acoustic and seismic sensors
  5. 4.5Sensor platforms: space, air and ground
  6. 4.6Sensor management and tasking
  7. 4.7Resolution, coverage and revisit
  8. 4.8Metadata and STANAG 4559 standards
  9. 4.9On-sensor processing
  10. 4.10Case study: design of a coastal sensor network
  1. 5.1Intelligence cycle and the PED process
  2. 5.2Data fusion according to the JDL model
  3. 5.3Image and video exploitation
  4. 5.4Geospatial analysis
  5. 5.5Machine learning for detection
  6. 5.6Uncertainty management
  7. 5.7Information products
  8. 5.8Dissemination and sharing
  9. 5.9Ethics and human control in analysis
  10. 5.10Practical exercise: object detection in satellite imagery
  1. 6.1GNSS systems: GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and BeiDou
  2. 6.2GNSS signals and observables
  3. 6.3Galileo PRS and authenticated services
  4. 6.4SBAS and GBAS augmentation systems
  5. 6.5Inertial navigation
  6. 6.6Time and frequency: atomic clocks
  7. 6.7Geodetic and cartographic references
  8. 6.8Integrity and RAIM
  9. 6.9PNT performance and metrics
  10. 6.10Lab: processing GNSS observables with RTKLIB
  1. 7.1Threats to PNT: jamming and spoofing
  2. 7.2Interference detection
  3. 7.3CRPA antennas and null steering at a conceptual level
  4. 7.4GNSS/INS integration
  5. 7.5Alternatives: eLoran and signals of opportunity
  6. 7.6Resilient time distribution
  7. 7.7Directive on the resilience of PNT services
  8. 7.8Resilience testing
  9. 7.9Multi-source PNT architectures
  10. 7.10Case study: PNT resilience assessment of an infrastructure
  1. 8.1PNT dependencies in C4ISR systems
  2. 8.2Network and sensor synchronisation
  3. 8.3Georeferencing of ISR information
  4. 8.4Blue force tracking
  5. 8.5Common operational picture
  6. 8.6Managing PNT degradation
  7. 8.7Interoperability of PNT services
  8. 8.8Accuracy requirements by function
  9. 8.9Failure impact analysis
  10. 8.10Workshop: analysis of PNT dependencies in a C4ISR network
  1. 9.1Threats to the C4ISR ecosystem
  2. 9.2Zero-trust architecture
  3. 9.3Communications security
  4. 9.4Cryptography and key management
  5. 9.5System accreditation
  6. 9.6Intrusion detection
  7. 9.7Mission cyber resilience
  8. 9.8Supply chain security
  9. 9.9ENS and NATO regulations
  10. 9.10Practical exercise: risk analysis with PILAR
  1. 10.1Network simulation with ns-3 and EXata
  2. 10.2Sensor simulation
  3. 10.3GNSS constellation simulation
  4. 10.4Integration benches
  5. 10.5Interoperability testing
  6. 10.6Measures of effectiveness
  7. 10.7Experimentation with users
  8. 10.8Model validation
  9. 10.9Test campaign management
  10. 10.10Lab: satellite coverage simulation with STK
  1. 11.1Capability planning
  2. 11.2C4ISR system life cycle
  3. 11.3European and NATO programmes
  4. 11.4Open architectures and modularity
  5. 11.5Logistic support
  6. 11.6Training and personnel
  7. 11.7Obsolescence management
  8. 11.8Costs and funding
  9. 11.9Transfer to civil security
  10. 11.10Case study: C4ISR modernisation roadmap
  1. 12.1Problem statement
  2. 12.2State-of-the-art review
  3. 12.3Proposed C4ISR architecture
  4. 12.4PNT subsystem design
  5. 12.5Simulation and analysis
  6. 12.6Resilience assessment
  7. 12.7Security analysis
  8. 12.8Conclusions and future work
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so you can combine it with your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is STK (Systems Tool Kit), RTKLIB, ns-3, QGIS and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for simulating communications networks and sensors, processing GNSS observables and assessing the resilience of PNT services. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: STANAG 4559, Directive (EU) 2022/2557, NATO Architecture Framework v4, RTCA DO-229, ISO/IEC 27001, Esquema Nacional de Seguridad, RD 311/2022, IEEE 1588.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of STANAG 4559, Directive (EU) 2022/2557 and NATO Architecture Framework v4 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:STK (Systems Tool Kit), RTKLIB, ns-3, QGIS and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:An integrated C4ISR architecture with a resilient PNT subsystem, simulated and security-assessed, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

C4ISR architecture definition
Define a C4ISR architecture for a surveillance scenario using NAF and UAF.
Communications and sensor network design
Size the communications links and the ISR sensor network that feed the system.
PNT subsystem and resilience
Design the PNT subsystem and assess its resilience to jamming and spoofing.
Simulation and security analysis
Simulate coverage and network performance with STK and ns-3 and analyse cyber risks.
Master's Thesis
Integrate the architecture, PNT design, simulation and security analysis into the thesis, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

C4ISR Systems EngineerNavigation and PNT EngineerCommunications EngineerInformation Fusion AnalystInformation Systems ArchitectInfrastructure Resilience Specialist
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with STK (Systems Tool Kit), RTKLIB, ns-3, QGIS and MATLAB, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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