Network eXperimentation Framework
Software-Defined RF Network Simulation
Already in use by defense contractors and military programs, NXF is a complete framework for testing, validating, and iterating on networked RF systems, from protocol development to full hardware-in-the-loop simulation, without deploying physical hardware.
From IDI-Systems, the team behind ACRE
NXF (Network eXperimentation Framework) is the simulation and testing pillar of ACRE — the Advanced Combat Radio Environment — IDI-Systems' platform for modeling, emulating, and testing RF communications. Already deployed in active defense programs, NXF replaces racks of physical radios and RF channel emulators with containerized virtual modems that run anywhere Docker does: on a laptop, a test server, or a cloud instance.
The framework covers the full RF link pipeline: propagation, waveform modeling, signal degradation, and the OSI network stack. A networked IPC layer couples virtual modems to 3D simulation engines like Unreal Engine for software/hardware-in-the-loop scenarios with virtual environment-aware RF propagation.
A custom Docker network plugin makes integration transparent: existing containerized applications communicate over emulated RF links with zero code changes. Plug in your C2 software, your vehicle's comms stack, or your data distribution service and test it against realistic, controllable RF conditions. A dedicated benchtop network facilitates simulated RF network traffic amongst any number of virtual modems, on one machine or many.
NXF combines virtual RF modem emulation, real-time simulation coupling, and transparent Docker networking into a single cohesive framework.
Extensible, containerized RF modem emulations that model real-world radio behavior. Configurable channel simulation, rate limiting, mesh networking, and analytics come paired with a built-in benchtop harness for automated testing at scale.
Network-capable inter-process communication that couples virtual modems to 3D simulation engines like Unreal Engine across machines, labs, or cloud instances. Low-latency, encrypted, and available from C++, Python, and C.
A Docker network driver that transparently bridges containerized applications into simulated RF networks. Standard Docker workflow, zero application modifications required.
Explore each component in depth in Capabilities ↓
Full-stack RF network emulation: channel simulation, mesh networking, real-time simulation coupling, security, analytics, and containerized deployment.
Configurable per-source bit error rate with stochastic corruption, multi-band support, and real-time link condition adjustment during test execution.
Full mesh stack with peer discovery, association, multi-hop routing, reliable delivery, and dynamic topology that emulates real tactical radio behavior.
Real-time coupling with 3D simulation engines via networked IPC. Position-aware RF propagation, antenna modeling, and multi-language APIs.
Multi-layer security across the framework: frame-level encryption on the mesh, DTLS on the IPC layer, and service set validation for peer authentication.
Real-time telemetry streaming with per-peer statistics, route table snapshots, and frame-level metrics for deep insight into network behavior.
Pure software, no specialized hardware. Containerized virtual modems deploy in seconds with pre-built scenario templates for common topologies.
NXF is already in active use by military customers and prime contractors building next-generation networked systems. Teams developing manned-unmanned teaming links use NXF to model degradation, handoff behavior, and mesh resilience across contested RF environments before flight testing. Ground vehicle programs validate multi-node mesh networks under electronic warfare conditions, terrain masking, and convoy mobility.
Programs also use NXF to emulate candidate radio hardware virtually, comparing link performance and throughput across modem configurations to down-select the right hardware before committing to procurement. By moving RF network testing earlier in the development cycle, teams reduce dependency on scarce hardware, cut test range costs, and catch integration issues months before they reach the field.
Test tactical networking, avionics datalinks, and UAV communication systems against realistic, controllable RF conditions before fielding. NXF emulates MANET behavior with TDMA access, multi-band operation, and pre-shared key encryption, mirroring the link-layer characteristics of tactical radios and airborne waveforms.
Validate mesh protocols, IoT gateway architectures, and private network deployments before committing to hardware. NXF lets you model link budget constraints with rate limiting and BER injection across any topology, from sparse sensor fields to dense urban mesh.
Couple NXF virtual modems with your simulation environment in real-time. The built-in networked IPC layer handles the transport: low-latency, encrypted, and multi-language.
Low-latency, encrypted real-time transport built on WebRTC. Publish/subscribe messaging with minimal overhead keeps simulation components tightly synchronized.
Receive 3D position, velocity, and orientation vectors from simulation entities. Calculate distance-based attenuation and BER from antenna characteristics. RF propagation responds to entity movement in real-time.
Integrate from C++, Python, or C. Native bindings for each language with a stable API designed for engine and tool compatibility.
Supports any payload encoding including Protocol Buffers, JSON, or custom formats. Schemas are included for RF events, antenna modeling, and acoustic propagation.
Built-in NAT traversal enables geographically distributed test environments. Connect simulation engines running in different facilities, labs, or cloud regions to a single coordinated scenario.
Automatic connection negotiation and topic discovery. Clients subscribe to data streams and receive updates as simulation components come and go, with no manual configuration required.
NXF is pure software. Deploy on a developer laptop, a rack server, or cloud infrastructure. No RF channel emulators, no hardware radios, no lab scheduling. Docker containers start in seconds and produce deterministic, repeatable results across any environment.
The framework is available for evaluation, project-specific deployment, or program-level licensing. Integration support and custom engineering services are available for teams adapting NXF to specific platforms, waveforms, or simulation environments.
Interested in evaluating NXF for your program? Whether you need a single integration, a custom deployment, or a full enterprise license, we are happy to discuss options.