Headquarters-on-the-Move Systems for Bushmaster
Approval for the latest batch of C2 systems being developed under Australia’s Land 2072 Phase 2B Project Currawong was secured in September.
Darcy Rawlinson, Business Development Manager – Networked Communications Systems at prime contractor Boeing Defence Australia, told MON that equipment Release 3 secured systems acceptance last month, confirming final systems design and completing prototype testing, allowing production to start.
Under Release 3, the Army is set to receive 18 new headquarters-on-the-move systems for installation on the Bushmaster 4×4, providing a small-scale SATCOM networking capability for deployed units. The systems include a roof-mounted satellite dish, with communications racks and positions for two operator workstations inside.
The Army will also receive Deployable Data Assembly Centre Assemblies (DDCA), that include a module fitted to the back of a Hawkei or G-Wagon that can set up with a generator and a 10m-tall mast to conduct line-of-sight radio communications and networking. These use the same communications racks as in the HQ-on-the-move system.
There are also new laptop-based External Network Access Points (ENAPs) provided under Release 3, giving the military access to civilian communications networks like Wifi, 5G and other commercial internet services, while protecting user identity and providing security and protection.
This equipment has been designed and built in Australia, and follows on from Release 2 equipment that forms the Army’s integrated battlefield telecommunications system (IBTS). This included a trailer-based 2.5m diameter medium satellite terminal (MST), a C-band troposcatter communications system and a Radio Interface System (RIS), providing a connection to up to six analogue radios with phones via radio-over-internet protocol.
Release 1 included the delivery of 250 Network Access Nodes (NAMs) – a set of rack-mounted computers in transportable cases that offer routing, switching, networking and voice and data transfer capabilities. Rawlinson said that a HQ element will use about eight NAMs, with a brigade taking four and a battalion formation just one.
Land 2072 Phase 2B is designed to give the Army an expanded, more effective command-level C2 capability. It has to be able to handle many different users with different levels of security clearance. These systems then feed into the equipment being delivered in three tranches under Land 200 Tactical Communications Network, that provides SATCOM, communications and battle management systems to sub-battalion formations at the vehicle and dismount levels.
Tim Fish reporting from Brisbane for MON
