  We introduce and characterize the independent fluctuating two-ray (IFTR)
fading model, a class of fading models consisting of two specular components
which fluctuate independently, plus a diffuse component modeled as a complex
Gaussian random variable. The IFTR model complements the popular fluctuating
two-ray (FTR) model, on which the specular components are fully correlated and
fluctuate jointly. The chief probability functions of the received SNR in IFTR
fading, including the PDF, CDF and MGF, are expressed in closed-form, having a
functional form similar to other state-of-the-art fading models. Then, the IFTR
model is empirically validated using multiple channels measured in rather
diverse scenarios, including line of sight (LOS) millimeter-wave, land mobile
satellite (LMS) and underwater acoustic communication (UAC), showing a better
fit than the original FTR model and other models previously used in these
environments. Additionally, the performance of wireless communication systems
operating under IFTR fading is evaluated in closed-form in two scenarios: (i)
exact and asymptotic bit error rate for a family of coherent modulations; and
(ii) exact and asymptotic outage probability.
