New communications equipment being delivered to the Australian Army under the Land 2072 Phase 2B programme – Project Currawong – has secured system acceptance.
A spokesperson from the Australian Defence Department told AMR: “System Acceptance for Release 3 of Land 2072 Phase 2B was achieved in August 2022 and production is well underway.”
This equipment will provide three nodes: headquarters, vehicle-mounted and man-portable. It includes 18 Headquarters on-the-move (HQOTM) systems for the Bushmaster 4×4 protected mobility vehicle; Deployable Data Assembly Centre Assemblies (DDCA); and laptop-based External Network Access Points (ENAPs).
“Delivery of Release 3 equipment to units commenced in early 2022 and is expected to be complete by mid-2023. The Project is expected to meet Final Operational Capability in Q3 2023, as approved by Government,” the spokesperson said.
Release 3 is currently being delivered, with delivery and introduction into service of the man portable elements is nearing completion.
The HQOTM systems includes a satellite dish installed to the roof of the vehicles to provide a SATCOM capability for forward deployed units. The DDCA uses a 10m mast and supporting equipment fitted to vehicles to provide radio network communications. The ENAP capability allows the military to utilise civilian communications networks such as 5G or Wifi in disguise add another communications node without being detected.
Project Currawong is providing a Battlespace Communication System Land (BCS-L) deployed wide-band backbone with equipment delivered in three releases to form an Integrated Battlefield Telecommunications Network (I-BTN). It will replace the existing Battlefield Telecommunication Network (BTN).
The first two releases have already been completed including a medium satellite terminal, C-band troposcatter and radio interface system; and 250 Network Access Nodes (NAM).
With the completion of equipment deliveries next year the I-BTN will provide more network capacity, more effective switching, wireless and network infrastructure supporting secure voice, data and video services.
by Tim Fish
