Building unique, sovereign maritime capability across the EM spectrum

Sovereign capability is one of those catchphrases that is both loved and loathed within the current Australian Defence and defence industry ecosystems as the often thinly defined term can result in confusion, but for Rohde & Schwarz, developing a world-leading sovereign capability is at the core of the business and its support of the Australian Defence Force.

Rohde & Schwarz actively seeks to develop a true, local, sustainable sovereign defence industry capability and has used its long-standing relationship with the RAN to develop a network of integrated communications solutions for the Royal Australian Navy and its various vessels, including the: 

• Anzac Class frigates;
• Hobart Class destroyers;
• Huon Class minehunters; 
• Armidale Class patrol boats, 
• Bay Class landing ship dock; and
• Collins Class submarines. 

Further to these existing capabilities, Rohde & Schwarz is preparing to provide similar solutions to the next-generation of Australian Navy capabilities, including the Supply Class auxiliary oiler/replenishment vessels, the Hunter Class guided missile frigates and Attack Class future submarines. 

Gareth Evans, managing director of Rohde & Schwarz Australia, explained the company's operating philosophy, telling Defence Connect, "Rohde & Schwarz has been providing integrated communications for the ADF for over 40 years, it is because of our long-term sustained presence we have been able to build a robust relationship with the Australian customer and establish a truly sovereign industry capability."

Rohde & Schwarz Australia has a long-term strategy to maintain a strong, viable local presence and increase market share in all business fields. The company is committed to providing in-country support for most of the products delivered into the Australian market.

To achieve this, the company continuously invests in equipment for repair and calibration, logistics, in-service support and evaluation. A team of 50 experts is focused on providing a high level of technical competence in pre-and post-sales support and outstanding quality in service repair and calibration.

"We provide a full life cycle capability across our local facilities in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide and the company's focus is on growing local capability, while learning from best practice examples from around the global business and its engagement in global projects," Evans explained. 

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This unique capability has resulted in Rohde & Schwarz Australia becoming a sovereign design authority for the Australian Defence Force, which also focuses on expanding Australia's capacity to serve as a global defence exporter drawing on the company's growing success in exporting capability to regional allied navies, including New Zealand, the Philippines, Malaysia and a growing focus on the Middle East. 

Evans told Defence Connect, "While we are focused on growing out Australian capacity, the company's growing participation with regional partners in New Zealand, the Philippines and Timor Leste, combined with an active push into the Middle East, highlights the maturity of the sovereign industry capability Rohde & Schwarz brings to the ADF." 

In light of this, the company has embraced the government's policy mandate of establishing the nation as a defence export powerhouse and its broader agenda of developing a high-technology, advanced Australian economy. Rohde & Schwarz has actively sought to leverage the export agenda and its high-tech focus on EM spectrum dominance to fully integrate such capabilities in an export capacity. 

"After 40 years of combined research and development, the company's focus on technology and knowledge transfer has enabled us to support the end-users unique requirements, no matter who they are. This combined with our locally based test and integration labs and expertise across the EM spectrum including cyber, cryptography, signals intelligence and electronic intelligence further enhances the sovereign industry capability on offer," Evans explained.  

Rohde & Schwarz is committed to strengthening customers’ digital sovereignty and giving them the greatest possible independence from manufacturers.

The prerequiste for digital sovereignty is technological independence. Technological independence is a core value for Rohde & Schwarz and is a vital part of what it offers to the RAN and our industrial partners.

Today’s military missions are typically based on a combination of joint and multinational operations. A key to success is achieving information superiority through network-centric operations. Effectiveness and survivability depend on this.

Rohde & Schwarz supplies interoperable and secure communications networks for the navy, army and air force and has decades of experience in naval communications solutions. As a system integrator, the company provides single-source communications and encryption solutions for modern naval applications.

Rohde & Schwarz will be present at PACIFIC 2019 held in Sydney at the International Convention Centre, Darling Harbour.