New RAN patrol boats to include R&S comms equipment
The six new Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will include communications equipment from Rohde & Schwarz (R&S), after the German company was awarded a contract from shipbuilder Austal.
Under the deal announced on 12 July, worth an undisclosed amount, R&S will provide its COTS-based Naval Integrated Communications System (NAVICS) with multi-layer security and secure external line of sight (VHF/UHF) and BLoS HF communications.
NAVICS features Ethernet standards and Voice over Internet Protocol switching which, said R&S Australia Managing Director Gareth Evans, ‘makes it both future-proof and scalable’.
As reported in May by Shephard, the fast-tracked construction programme for the new Cape-class boats will cost about A$350 million ($226.3 million), with the boats to be constructed at Austal’s shipyard in Perth.
The first delivery is expected in September 2021 and the final boat will be handed over in mid-2023.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![Piercing the fog of war via battlespace management]()
Piercing the fog of war via battlespace management
Battle Management Systems are emerging as increasingly important tools for commanders making decisions in fluid combat situations.
-
![US Army selects Northrop Grumman Athena sensor to improve threat detection capabilities for its aircraft]()
US Army selects Northrop Grumman Athena sensor to improve threat detection capabilities for its aircraft
According to the supplier, Athena is a next-generation missile warning sensor that provides 360-degree situational awareness.
-
![UK Space Command launches first military satellite]()
UK Space Command launches first military satellite
Tyche satellite will deliver military situational awareness for Ministry of Defence decision-making.
-
![Seizing the Future: The Imperative for Militaries to Master AI and Forge Strategic Alliances]()
Seizing the Future: The Imperative for Militaries to Master AI and Forge Strategic Alliances
The current pace of innovation demands a new strategy for success, focusing on developing technology to meet specific defence goals and ensuring collaborative efforts.
-
![In-orbit imaging a “game-changer” in space situational awareness]()
In-orbit imaging a “game-changer” in space situational awareness
As the threats of nuclear weapons in space and the militarisation of the domain persist, an Australian outfit has been developing technology that defence organisations could utilise to identify objects in space to gain a better understand of what they are doing in orbit.
-
![Arctic broadband satellites launched for reliable military connectivity]()
Arctic broadband satellites launched for reliable military connectivity
The mission marks the first time an active US military payload has been delivered by commercial rocket.
