Communications System Installed on Chilean and Colombian OPVs

Systems engineering house SISDEF is highlighting its HERMES Integrated Communications System (ICS) at EXPONAVAL this week.

HERMES coordinates internal and external communications on a naval vessel with a high degree of flexibility and has already been installed on the Chilean Navy’s CABO ODGER ocean patrol vessel (OPV) and on three Colombian Navy OPVs. The SISDEF-designed ICS is also expected to be installed on the ASMAR-built ANTARCTIC I icebreaker.

The system can be installed in command centres as well as in maritime, air and ground platforms, with configurations ranging from one to over 100 user stations and for all types of communications equipment: U/VHF, HF, satellite, cellular, fixed telephony, IP. Among its general capabilities are the following: BIT system; digital recording of communications lines; a man/machine interface configurable with touchscreen and/or pushbuttons; network startup with the parameters of the last valid configuration; flexible design adaptable to any platform; extendable to more than 1,024 remote stations; use of COTS components.

Internal communications capabilities include multipoint or conference links (hot line) between remote stations (20 simultaneous conferences) and point-to-point links between remote stations. It allows for the integration of surveillance cameras and loudspeaker systems. In external communications, the system provides simultaneous access for remote stations to radio lines for transceivers, receivers or transmitters of the ICS; digital isolation and electromagnetic noise management; automatic relay between radios; monitoring of radio audio line state; and radio parameter configuration from the central computer.