Rohde & Schwarz offers innovative solutions in all fields of secure communications

Rohde & Schwarz, an independent, privately owned German company, offers innovative solutions in all fields of secure communications. Thanks to its long-standing experience and in-house product development, Rohde & Schwarz is the center of excellence when it comes to creating high-quality communications solutions. As a system integrator, the company offers solutions for all kinds of advanced naval platforms, accreditable up to NATO SECRET.

• Integrated communications systems (ICS): Based on customer requirements and on the concept of operations (CONOPS), the company provides a customized solution and full support over the entire lifecycle.
• Information assurance: Naval-specific cyber risk management ensures protection of information, taking into consideration the value chain and overall system lifecycle.
• IP – the future of communications networks: Network centric operations require standardized message formats, transport protocols and transmission methods so that IP based communications on land can be expanded to mobile units at sea via radiocommunications.

Aboard ships, Rohde & Schwarz provides internal and external communications systems that are built upon a high-availability Ethernet backbone for all communications services.

Highly sophisticated voice terminals

R&S NAVICS provides a new generation of voice terminals for all kinds of internal communications, including access to public announcement and alarm systems and connectivity to all external communications equipment. Touchscreen and softkey versions are available to meet different environmental requirements.

Voice and data mobility – available everywhere on board

R&S NAVICS is the only solution that enables the use of handhelds and tablets for on-board mobile communications. The use of Wi-Fi in conjunction with VoIP, the dominant industry standard, ensures that the solution will meet future requirements and allows a high bandwidth. The handhelds provide the same communications capabilities as the voice terminals and are a very convenient means of achieving 24-hour crew reachability.

High security is standard

To ensure communications security on board, the network is based on Wi-Fi standard 802.1X. This standard only permits devices with a valid electronic certificate to connect to the network. The Wi-Fi network structure allows secure and reliable separation of operational and support services. Transmission security (TRANSEC) and communications security (COMSEC) for external communications can either be provided or integrated where national solutions are required.

Easy access to a variety of services

R&S NAVICS establishes the foundation for the future installation of a variety of mobile services, e.g. access to electronic system documentation, eTraining, remote service support, short message services and personnel location services. Thanks to the simple and decentralised access to user and service manuals, information is readily available – wherever and whenever it is needed.

Naval threat management

The impact of cyber threats in commercial and military networks increases dramatically due to the use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment and sophisticated attacks conducted by state actors. This is why R&S NAVICS embodies state-of-the-art measures to actively manage risks, by analysing and mitigating security risks from design and development and into operation

Lifecycle management from design to integration to operation

Rohde & Schwarz provides a full range of system lifecycle, maintenance and operational system support services for the communications system. The company can therefore act as a trusted partner for the business and technical elements of the in-service support program. This includes fulfilling operational and equipment availability criteria, ensuring system worthiness and maintaining the long-term sustainability and cost effectiveness of system support. The scope of services is tailored to customers’ requirements and expectations.

R&S NAVICS provides a vendor-independent platform to connect with customer-specific subsystems to establish one network for all communications services, including voice, data and management. With a key focus on communality and serviceability, R&S NAVICS is scalable from small patrol boats to large carrier-size vessels.

R&S NAVICS will be integrated on board modern platforms such as the Royal Navy’s Type 26 global combat ships (GCS), the Royal Malaysian Navy’s littoral combat ships (LCS) and the German Navy’s minehunter MJ 332.

Hanspeter Burger, Dipl.-Ing. (univ.), Product Manager Naval Systems

Michael Fraebel, Dipl.-Ing. (univ.), Director of Operational Marketing

Secure Communications Division, Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co KG