Rohde & Schwarz Australia has signed a contract with BAE Systems to provide software defined radios, back up communications systems and monitoring for Royal Australian Air Force air traffic control (ATC).
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This contract forms part of Project AIR 5431 Phase 3, which will see the current fixed military air traffic management and control systems at 12 locations replaced with a new harmonised system.
Project AIR 5431 Phase 3 feeds into the national OneSky Project, which aims to deliver safe and more efficient air traffic services; manage future air traffic growth; and support national security based on seamless civil-military co-operation in ATC.
Managing Director of Rohde & Schwarz (Australia), Gareth Evans explained, "The support being provided by Rohde & Schwarz includes CERTIUM radios and ancillaries, CERTIUM VCS-4G as the backup voice communications system, and CERTIUM management systems for all of the 12 ATC facilities."
Project AIR 5431 Phase 3 will acquire the Defence element of the CMATS that will be used for the provision of air base air traffic services (ABATS) to both civil and military aircraft. CMATS will replace the air traffic management and control systems at nine military approach control sites and 12 military towers around Australia.
AIR 5431 Phase 3 is being progressed jointly with Airservices Australia Future Services Division program, collectively known as OneSKY Australia, to acquire, sustain and operate a more harmonised national ATM (air traffic management) system.
Airservices and Defence view OneSKY as an opportunity that is essential for the future performance of Australia’s aviation industry.
BAE Systems Australia program manager Peter Cantwell added, "BAE Systems is pleased to partner with Rohde & Schwarz (Australia). Its CERTIUM software defined radio products are key elements of the advanced air-ground-air communications capability that BAE Systems is designing, integrating and deploying for the RAAF. BAE Systems and Rohde & Schwarz (Australia) have a long history of collaboration in this domain."
Defence has said the future national ATM system architecture will cater for greater collaboration between Airservices and Defence, and that procurement of a common system will increase seamless ATM capability with minimal risk and enhance national airspace security and contingency response.
AIR 5431 Phase 3 also includes the provision of an Approach ATM automation simulator at the School of Air Traffic Control at RAAF Base East Sale and an operational maintenance trainer to be located at RAAF Base Amberley.
In March, Rohde & Schwarz launched CERTIUM, an advanced ATC communications suite. The R&S Series4200 is a field-tested cornerstone of this portfolio, with more than 30,000 radios in service around the world. The software defined architecture makes the suite ED-137C VoIP compliant and a reliable solution for years to come.
Rohde & Schwarz is a leading supplier of solutions in the fields of test and measurement, broadcast and media, aerospace, defence, security and networks and cyber security.
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