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L3Harris Technologies has launched a new, next-generation software device called NETCASTER to increase tactical network optimisation and performance of traditional routers through open-standards architectures.
The NETwork Control and Service Translation Enhanced Router (NETCASTER), developed as a sovereign Australian capability, was announced as an exportable non-ITAR application developed in the L3Harris facility in Brisbane, Queensland.
The product was originally unveiled at the annual Military Communications and Information Systems Conference in Canberra earlier this week and was reportedly developed in response to demand from international customers as well as the Australian Army’s LAND 4140 to upgrade command, control, communications, computers and intelligence capabilities.
“It’s such an excitement to see that our team here in Australia, out of Brisbane, has developed this capability that has such great use around the world,” said Faisal Munir, L3Harris vice president and general manager international.
“Whether you’re buying a new artillery system or new fires or new vehicle system, infantry fighting, armoured fighting vehicles. They all understand that there is no one solution to comms, they understand that every single comms network requires a little bit of resilience and redundancy.
“How does anybody understand how to route traffic the most optimal way through a network of when you have five different medias in a vehicle and you have also five different applications; that’s trying to do various things in the vehicle or aircraft, or a maritime boat or whatever platform it might be. NETCASTER is a solution to that.
“And then being a software, it allows us to evolve this capability with our customers as well. It’s not just a one-time product that has no additional life. As customers evolve their missions, we will evolve the capability of the product line to go along with that as well.”
The next-generation router technology is designed to maximise in-theatre resiliency for deployable joint domain communications and is Australian Land Data Model-compliant.
It is Australian indigenously designed and developed as an application to leverage a software-defined networking architecture to seamlessly integrate into existing infrastructures and ease operator workload. The security-hardened router has enhanced routing features, streamlined virtual deployment and a user-friendly graphical user interface.
“We developed NETCASTER with a modular and flexible design for both domestic and export use as the latest example of the ongoing and significant investment L3Harris is making in Australia,” said Andrew Rushbrook, general manager, Australia Tactical Communications, L3Harris.
“Our company has a shared commitment with the Commonwealth to develop a resilient and competitive Australian Defence industry in support of priority capabilities.”
Earlier in 2025, the company officially opened its new Indo-Pacific Regional Support Centre in Pinkenba, following the establishment in 2024 of a Centre of Excellence for Electronic Warfare in Brisbane.
