TACTICAL PRIORITIZATION OF UAV DATA STREAMS IN TOC PROCESSING UNITS UNDER RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS

In modern military and emergency operations, the real-time processing of UAV-generated data streams at Tactical Operations Centers (TOCs) is critical for operational awareness and rapid decision-making. However, the exponential growth in UAV deployments and the limited processing and bandwidth capabilities at TOCs present significant challenges. This paper introduces a tactical prioritization approach for managing UAV data streams under resource-constrained conditions. The proposed model emphasizes intelligent stream classification, dynamic prioritization based on mission-criticality, and adaptive buffering strategies to optimize communication flow. A simulation scenario replicates field conditions involving multiple UAVs transmitting telemetry, video, and sensor data to a TOC facing bandwidth restrictions and computational bottlenecks. Performance metrics such as latency, packet drop rate, and mission success rate are evaluated. The results indicate that strategic prioritization significantly improves the timely processing of essential information, reduces operational delays, and maintains system stability. This study demonstrates how aligning communication strategies with mission urgency enhances overall situational awareness and supports effective decision-making in constrained environments.