Turnkey Solutions for RIVER-class OPVs
Britain’s naval forces are undergoing substantial change, with the Royal Navy (RN) retaining three of its Batch 1 RIVER-class offshore patrol vessels (OPV) and the OPV(H), HMS CLYDE, until 2020, while simultaneously expecting to have three of the five Batch 2 vessels operational by the end of the year.
Rohde & Schwarz (R&S) is providing turnkey communications solutions for both batches, supporting the RN’s future. R&S software defined radios (SDR) are designed for shipborne communications and feature a modular design, a high degree of flexibility and the latest technologies. Standards-based and proprietary waveforms make secure voice and data communications in the HF and VHF/UHF frequency ranges possible.
The R&S M3SR Series 4100 HF radios are innovative, versatile SDR that belong to the popular SOVERON radio family, designed for use in permanently connected deployment in beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) communications. They are installed in racks in a ship’s radio room or at a shore station, where they cover long-haul ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communications. They support frequency hopping and provide interoperability with tactical radios in HF operating modes. The R&S M3SR Series 4400 VHF/UHF radios offer military customers LOS communications with a flexible range of applications, NATO and proprietary EPM (ECCM) waveforms. Military data transmission methods, such as LINK 11 and LINK 22, are supported.
“We are very proud of our work for the UK and that we help to provide a safe, future-ready investment for the Royal Navy,” commented the company’s Vice President Market Segment Navy, Hansjörg Herrbold. “Trusted by customers and with a reliability built over decades, Rohde & Schwarz stands for highest standard, demonstrating value for money and again that we are able to bring support locally and act globally. The SOVERON family saves on logistics effort and reduces operating costs. In particular, the costs of warehousing spare parts and of maintenance are reduced tremendously, due to the increased reliability of our products.” In addition, SDRs can be kept up-to-date using software updates.
Other R&S naval successes in the UK include providing communications solutions to the QUEEN ELIZABETH-class aircraft carriers, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s BAY-class vessels and the Type 26 Global Combat Ship.
