Planned Acquisition: Elektrobit to provide tactical communications and networking system to Finnish Defence Forces

References: Elektrobit (1,2), Wireless Innovation Forum, European Defence Agency

News Report

As appeared in a recent press release, Finnish Defence Forces have decided to deploy Elektrobit's Tactical Wireless IP Network that Elektrobit (EB) released earlier this week. EB will develop a wireless IP network for the need of Finnish Defence Forces and deliver the first pilot series of the software defined radios. Related to the project, the Finnish Defence Forces has a purchase option for further development as well as serial purchase of the product.

The System / The Technology

Elektrobit Tactical Wireless IP Network is a stand-alone military wireless broadband network that can be deployed in any location.

With the EB Tactical Wireless IP Network battle groups can create high data rate wireless IP networks as backbone to support C2 data transmission during operation. Flexibility to use the EB solution in different frequency bands and network structures provide cost effectiveness, easy to use and efficiency.

Being based on Software Defined Radio makes the product versatile, upgradeable and easy to adapt. It enables a mesh network solution with high data rate and automatic network configuration required by battle groups on the move. The Product was developed to be compatible with the SCA (Software Communications Architecture) and ESSOR (European Secure Software Radio Programme) software architectures.

The Context

The value of the purchase is EUR 15.6 million (excl. VAT) and the term of the contract is until the first half of 2013. The project has no significant impact on EB's net sales, operating result or balance sheet. It has also no effect on EB's outlook for the second half of 2011, published on August 5, 2011 in EB's Interim Report January-June 2011, and the guidance for the period remains unchanged.
The Software Communications Architecture, or SCA, provides a set of specifications that facilitate portability, interoperability and configurability of the software and hardware components used in the manufacturing of radio systems. The original technologies for these specifications were developed in the late 1980’s and early 1990, and was further matured by the members of the Modular Software Programmable Radio Consortium (MSRC), working in cooperation with the Forum’s Mobile Working Group into what became the Joint Tactical Radio System Software Communications Architecture (JTRS SCA).

The European Secure Software Defined Radio (ESSOR) programme, established by six contributing Member States (Finland, France, Italy, Poland, Spain and Sweden), was signed on 19 December 2008 between A4ESSOR (the prime contractor) and OCCAR-EA (Conjointe de Coopération en matière d'ARmement-Executive Administration), which took on the responsibility to manage the programme on 5 June 2007.

Comments

"The defence forces require an even better situational awareness of the status in the field, forces need effective co-ordination and communication infrastructure, logistics needs to be planned online - this growing data flow requires the digitalization of command and control systems. High capacity wireless IP backbone solutions, like the EB Tactical Wireless IP network, build the core of our digitalization and enables the creation of a tactical communications network," says Juha Mattila, colonel at Finnish Defence Forces, C4IS Division. "This compact Software Defined Radio based solution allows us to use less units, resulting in space savings and lower maintenance costs. It brings flexibility with multi-channel functionality and enables us to adapt to changes through the whole lifecycle."

"This product responds to the Finnish Defence Forces requirements for modern military operations, demanding much higher data rates in the field," said Jari Sankala, vice president, Defence & Security at EB. "We are pleased with the cooperation with the Finnish Defence Forces; their stringent requirements enable us to develop world class products. This co-operation opens us also excellent opportunities for international business."

Further Readings

• ESSOR (doc)