buglerbilly
17-06-10, 10:34 PM
CONRAD “makes the Bundesheer a member of the high-tech family.”
Defence Minister hands over “world’s most state-of-the-art radio system”
08:39 GMT, June 17, 2010 defpro.com | On Monday, the Austrian Defence Minister, Norbert Darabos, officially handed over the Austrian Armed Force’s new radio system, called Combat Net Radio or CONRAD, heralding a new age of military communication capabilities for Austrian soldiers. Speaking of a “technical revolution in the radio sector of the Bundesheer”, the Defence Minister presented the new system in a hand-over ceremony in Vienna to the Signal Troops School (Fernmeldetruppenschule).
„The equipment of the first three Jäger battalions has been completed. Now the operational use can begin. From now on, the world’s most state-of-the-art radio system is at the disposal of our soldiers,” said the Defence Minister.
Becoming a Member of the High-tech Family
CONRAD permits the Austrian Armed Forces to enter the digital era in terms of communication technology, replacing the ageing analogue radio systems of the PRC-77 family and the FMMech system which have been introduced with the troops in 1977 and 1982. Being easy to jam and to tap, the old systems did not meet the requirements of a modern army anymore. Therefore, in July 2007 the Austrian Ministry of National Defence ordered the CONRAD systems, manufactured by German-based TELEFUNKEN Radio Communication Systems, for some €80 million.
The order comprises a total of 5,000 radios and associated equipment as well as a radio network management system. The CONRAD solution also includes elements such as a receiver/transmitter/ (r/t) with COMSEC and TRANSSEC, a man-pack version, vehicle integration versions, handheld transceivers (fully r/t compatible). According to the Defence Ministry, the digital system is in particular characterised by a very secure and reliable connection, also in Austria’s alpine environment.
CONRAD can encrypt automatically and provides a data and image transmission rate of up to 115kB/s as well as an SMS capability while being easy to handle for the soldiers. The delivery and integration of all systems is to be completed by the end of 2011. “This will complete a further important segment of the soldiers’ equipment. The procurement of the troop radio system is one of the largest investments of the Ministry of National Defence of the past years. This makes the Bundesheer a member of the high-tech family,” said the Defence Minister on the occasion of the system’s hand-over.
Austrian Armed Forces to “Remain Fully Operational“
Despite this significant investment, to enable the Austrian Armed Forces to keep up with the pace of indispensible modernisation efforts, the Austrian government – as so many of its European neighbours – has to save money. In a speech, held last week on the occasion of the 50-years celebration of the Austrian Officers Association, Defence Minister Darabos said that, although the Armed Forces’ administration would have to go to the threshold of pain in terms of spending cuts, the “Bundesheer has to and will remain fully operationally to meet its fundamental tasks.” According to the Minister, the examination of all sectors and the elaboration of a savings concept have to respect the criteria of efficiency, effectiveness and operational capabilities.
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By Nicolas von Kospoth, Managing Editor
Defence Minister hands over “world’s most state-of-the-art radio system”
08:39 GMT, June 17, 2010 defpro.com | On Monday, the Austrian Defence Minister, Norbert Darabos, officially handed over the Austrian Armed Force’s new radio system, called Combat Net Radio or CONRAD, heralding a new age of military communication capabilities for Austrian soldiers. Speaking of a “technical revolution in the radio sector of the Bundesheer”, the Defence Minister presented the new system in a hand-over ceremony in Vienna to the Signal Troops School (Fernmeldetruppenschule).
„The equipment of the first three Jäger battalions has been completed. Now the operational use can begin. From now on, the world’s most state-of-the-art radio system is at the disposal of our soldiers,” said the Defence Minister.
Becoming a Member of the High-tech Family
CONRAD permits the Austrian Armed Forces to enter the digital era in terms of communication technology, replacing the ageing analogue radio systems of the PRC-77 family and the FMMech system which have been introduced with the troops in 1977 and 1982. Being easy to jam and to tap, the old systems did not meet the requirements of a modern army anymore. Therefore, in July 2007 the Austrian Ministry of National Defence ordered the CONRAD systems, manufactured by German-based TELEFUNKEN Radio Communication Systems, for some €80 million.
The order comprises a total of 5,000 radios and associated equipment as well as a radio network management system. The CONRAD solution also includes elements such as a receiver/transmitter/ (r/t) with COMSEC and TRANSSEC, a man-pack version, vehicle integration versions, handheld transceivers (fully r/t compatible). According to the Defence Ministry, the digital system is in particular characterised by a very secure and reliable connection, also in Austria’s alpine environment.
CONRAD can encrypt automatically and provides a data and image transmission rate of up to 115kB/s as well as an SMS capability while being easy to handle for the soldiers. The delivery and integration of all systems is to be completed by the end of 2011. “This will complete a further important segment of the soldiers’ equipment. The procurement of the troop radio system is one of the largest investments of the Ministry of National Defence of the past years. This makes the Bundesheer a member of the high-tech family,” said the Defence Minister on the occasion of the system’s hand-over.
Austrian Armed Forces to “Remain Fully Operational“
Despite this significant investment, to enable the Austrian Armed Forces to keep up with the pace of indispensible modernisation efforts, the Austrian government – as so many of its European neighbours – has to save money. In a speech, held last week on the occasion of the 50-years celebration of the Austrian Officers Association, Defence Minister Darabos said that, although the Armed Forces’ administration would have to go to the threshold of pain in terms of spending cuts, the “Bundesheer has to and will remain fully operationally to meet its fundamental tasks.” According to the Minister, the examination of all sectors and the elaboration of a savings concept have to respect the criteria of efficiency, effectiveness and operational capabilities.
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By Nicolas von Kospoth, Managing Editor