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The Royal Australian Navy’s first three Hunter Class frigates will be fitted with Rohde & Schwarz’s NAVICS communications technology under a contract with BAE Systems Maritime Australia.
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Rohde & Schwarz Australia will deliver integrated communication and control systems into the first batch of three Hunter frigates, the Australian variant of the BAE Systems-designed and built Global Combat Ship.
NAVICS will be central to the Hunter frigate’s communications system, providing integrated and reliable internal and external communications and processing of classified information within a multi-level security environment.
“This contract is a clear validation of the highly collaborative working relationship established between Rohde & Schwarz, BAE Systems and the Commonwealth of Australia,” Rohde & Schwarz Australia managing director Gareth Evans said.
“This confirmation of Rohde & Schwarz Australia as communications system integrator is testament to the dedication and hard work of our project team since we first began work to provide early engineering services for the design and manufacture of the ICS more than five years ago.
“With our resilient local capacity to innovate, develop and deliver communication systems, we are a trusted partner to both the Commonwealth and BAE Systems, underpinning the Sovereign Defence Industrial Priority of Continuous Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment.”
Rohde & Schwarz has operated in Australia for more than 40 years, establishing a sovereign Integrated Communications System (ICS) and service delivery capability in Australia. This has been further enhanced through technology and knowledge transfer from its parent company in Germany.
Rohde & Schwarz Australia’s workforce has already doubled to deliver engineering services for the design and manufacture of the ICS and will continue to grow as it supports the Hunter program. The company will work closely with BAE Systems and local industry to maximise opportunities for Australian industry to assist in the manufacture, integration, testing and commissioning of the ICS.
“We are pleased to work alongside the Rohde & Schwarz team and our industry partners to deliver the most capable anti-submarine warfare in service of the Royal Australian Navy,” BAE Systems Maritime Australia managing director Craig Lockhart said.
“In harnessing world-class industry capability, we will ensure that the Royal Australian Navy continues to be equipped with what it needs to fight and win at sea.”
