A waveform is referred to as part of a military communication asset, comprises of much more information than just the physical key parameters like amplitude, frequency or phase.

In general, the waveform provides all the necessary parameters to successfully set up a specific secure radio network in a military or law enforcement scenario. Modern waveforms like e.g. SATURN will provide information on every OSI-model-layer (Open Systems Interconnection model) such as physical, data link, network, and even application level.

Waveform is considered an important asset in terms of industrial property and is of the most sensitive characteristic and differentiator of the current and future military radios.

We can classify the secure waveforms in those developed by large consortiums and details of the waveforms are known by the consortium participants. These waveforms are developed to ensure interoperability between different group of users. A good example of these waveforms are APCO, PMR or TETRA waveforms specifically designed to be used by law-enforcements or public safety agencies around the globe. These radios can be easily configured to use these common waveforms enabling secure communications between these different groups of users. Another example are the waveforms developed by specific armed forces alliances, a good example of it are the SATURN, HAEQUICK, or the ESSOR waveform developed to allow interoperability between the NATO allies.

The second group of secure waveforms are those provided by radio manufacturers, or developed by specific armed-forces labs. These waveforms are full proprietary and completely closed, avoiding any possibility to interoperability with other waveforms. The owner of the waveforms have the specifics and required details in order to develop products that are compatible with these waveforms, and it is rarely the case that one of the proprietary waveform is ported from a radio from one manufacturer to a radio from another manufacturer.