STM, BAU & Hensoldt sign cooperation agreement for optical communication system

At Euronaval, STM Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.S., Bahçesehir University (BAU) and Hensoldt signed a cooperation agreement under the directives of Turkish Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB). This agreement sees STM and BAU develop an optical communication system, which provides a link between submarines and divers, integrated with an optical surveillance system by Hensoldt. 

The wireless underwater voice communications system, once developed, “will be the first of its kind in the world,” said STM during the signing ceremony. Hensoldt’s optical surveillance system comprises various camera configurations that allows submarines to maintain 360-degree surveillance.

This joint project aims at contributing to security in military communication. The STM-BAU team already developed an optical communication system prototype that can provide communication between underwater units/platforms, underwater-air vehicles, naval surface-surface vehicles and stationary land platforms. Once serial production begins and is used/tested in the field, these systems will complement radio frequency (RF)communication systems in terms of security and redundancy. The optical communication system will eliminate certain disadvantages of an RF system in areas as interception, eavesdropping, and communication jamming, making communications more secure, the company said at Euronaval.