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2021-02-03

Rohde & Schwarz Boosts Surveillance Abilities for Naval Forces

Naval forces worldwide are facing changes in their mission requirements with operations against terrorism, piracy, smuggling, and other organised crime at sea becoming new challenges, next to the original forms of naval warfare.

The increase of maritime and littoral operations in asymmetric warfare and in peace-keeping measures necessitates that seagoing vessels offer multi-mission capabilities. This requires a high degree of flexibility in the use of human and material resources so as to accommodate the new scenarios. This is where the multichannel naval communications intelligence (COMINT) system from Rohde & Schwarz helps by increasing situational awareness on naval vessels and expanding reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities.

The system benefits in many ways. It increases the military force and survivability for both the individual vessel and the fleet. It contributes to the ship’s alertness, enhances situational awareness, and supports well-directed missions by gaining access to data from intercepted communications and by triggering immediate alarms. It collects valuable information for fleet-wide intelligence.

It automatically processes fixed-frequency, as well as frequency agile signals (hoppers) and handles all types of HF/VHF/UHF radio communications.

The system’s capabilities include complete recording of the digital audio or the signal’s IF.

COMINT takes bearings on emitters and shows their line of bearing (LOB) along with the emitter locations on a digital map.

The wideband receiver with digital down converters (DDC) allows multi-channel monitoring of a scalable number of frequencies in parallel. Its signal processing functions include interception of voice signals; demodulation and decoding of digital transmissions; automatic classification and content production; plus digital signal recording and replay.

COMINT includes a database that handles all gathered information. Integrated algorithms recognise communications networks by matching intercepted results with emitter data in the database and update the situation picture accordingly.

Bosco Novak, Executive Vice President, Monitoring and Network Testing, Rohde & Schwarz explains: “Rohde & Schwarz offers its naval COMINT system as stand-alone solutions or as subsystems for full integration and interoperability with other platform subsystems.”

Contract with Austal

Separately, Rohde & Schwarz (Australia) signed a contract with Austal Limited to deliver integrated communications systems for six Cape class patrol boats (CCPB) contracted by the Department of Defence for use by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

The new RAN CCPBs will include a number of enhancements that include Rohde & Schwarz communications equipment, including the company’s Naval Integrated Communications System (NAVICS) with multi-layer security and secure external line of sight (V/UHF) and beyond line of sight communications (HF).

One of the exciting aspects of NAVICS is its true VoIP switching, as it’s not a hybrid TDM solution. This makes it both future-proof and scalable. NAVICS is being deployed on numerous naval vessels, including the Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigates.

Rhode & Schwarz is exhibiting at stand 07-B42

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