The work was reportedly completed in approximately 16 months, despite COVID-induced disruptions.   

Rohde & Schwarz Australia supplied the complete business continuity function and monitoring subsystems to BAE Systems.

This involved the initial requirements review, the human-machine interface (HMI), system safety and security working groups, and design reviews.

The work concluded with a series of acceptance test and evaluation activities.

Services included project management, systems design and development, systems integration, HMI customisation, security hardening, verification and validation, and integrated logistics support.

Specifically, Rohde & Schwarz’s contribution to the projected included the provision of:

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• over 300 CERTIUM radios and ancillaries;
• CERTIUM VCS-4G as the backup voice communications system; and
• CERTIUM management systems for 12 defense aerodromes across Australia.

“Working to a tight project schedule, our team has again been equal to the task,” Gareth Evans, managing director of Rohde & Schwarz Australia, said.

Evans lauded the speed of delivery amid operational challenges.

“To set up a team and design, deliver and integrate these systems to achieve the factory acceptance test milestones in under five months, and subsequently deliver the systems for 12 sites over the next 11 months — four of which were subject to a COVID-19 freeze — is a truly admirable feat and I’m immensely proud of their efforts,” he said.

“AGAT is yet another example of our ability to provide a locally designed and engineered customised solution which leverages our group’s communications technology portfolio in order to meet a particular defense capability need.”

Daniel Wang, head of programs – air traffic control, said the company has delivered fully engineered, security hardened and configured systems, capable of being enhanced in response to changing requirements.  

“We received very positive feedback from both BAE Systems and the Commonwealth Project Office regarding our project delivery performance, the capability of the systems we delivered and our innovative approach,” he said.

Marius Münstermann, vice president – air traffic control, Rohde & Schwarz, added: “This success and positive feedback from all parties involved reinforces our hard-earned reputation as trusted partner for secure communications systems within the aerospace sector, particularly when it comes to air traffic control, air defense and air battlespace management.”

Project AIR 5431 Phase 3 aims to acquire the defence element of the Civil Military Air Traffic Management System (CMATS), used for the provision of air base air traffic services (ABATS) to both civil and military aircraft.

CMATS is expected to replace the air traffic management and control systems at nine military approach control sites and 12 military towers around Australia.

[Related: Rohde & Schwarz unveils new COMINT/CESM monitoring solutions]