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The defence contractor’s project to deliver upgraded deployed air operations capability to the RAAF has achieved a new milestone.
Rohde & Schwarz Australia has completed mid-life upgrades for a Royal Australian Air Force Transportable Air Operations Tower (TAOT) from its Systems Integration Facility.
The TAOT, first delivered in 2012, has been fitted with modernised systems, including internet protocol (IP) based voice communications and recording, airfield monitoring and control, and network and time synchronisation.
Rohde & Schwarz’s upgrades also included improvements to IP radios, security hardening, provisioning of new interfaces, and new uninterrupted power supplies, air conditioning, and smoke detectors.
“We delivered the TAOT’s impressive capability to Air Force as prime systems integrator so we’re very proud to be continuing our relationship, ensuring that capability remains at the cutting edge of air traffic control technology,” Rohde & Schwarz Australia managing director Gareth Evans said.
“I’m especially proud of our team who have managed to complete this complex upgrade despite significant resource constraints and supplier issues imposed by COVID-19.”
This was the first of a number of scheduled mid-life upgrades to the TAOT fleet, expected to extend their service life beyond 2030.
A TAOT unit was recently deployed to RAAF Base Scherger in far north Queensland as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021.
During Operation ‘Bushfire Assist’ in summer 2019-20, a TAOT also supported civilian and military aircraft conducting remote firefighting and humanitarian aid missions.
[Related: Rohde & Schwarz sign supply agreement with Gulf navy for NAVICS comms system]
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