Leonardo-Finmeccanica, an international high-tech security company, and Bittium, a Finnish company providing modern tactical communications systems and reliable, secure communications and connectivity solutions, are demonstrating how the land forces of different European countries will be able to communicate with each other in joint operations, linking up via a common waveform regardless of the actual radio platforms they use.
In the demonstration, the two firms will show how Europe’s ESSOR program (European Secure SOftware defined Radio) has made it possible for each companies’ separate systems to interact seamlessly.
Demonstrations are taking place at the Eurosatory Defense and Security International Exhibition (Paris, June 13-17) at Leonardo’s chalet in the outdoor area.
Both systems will make use of the European High Data Rate Waveform (HDRWF), which was developed under the ESSOR to enable improved cooperation in joint, inter-country operations. In the demonstration, Leonardo’s Swave SDR (Software Defined Radio) tactical radio and Bittium’s Tactical Wireless IP Network™ (TAC WIN) system will form a network where a video stream will highlight the capabilities of the ESSOR HDRWF as well as showing off both systems.
Bittium’s TAC WIN system is currently widely used by the Finnish Defense Forces and it enables fast, automated forming of wireless broadband IP network on the field, compatible with existing wireline and wireless infrastructure. Leonardo’s Swave SDR is a vehicular 4-channel radio able to host a complete range of waveforms in the range from 4 MHz to 2 GHz.
“ESSOR is an important program which will allow European forces to work more closely together, in the end helping them be more effective on joint missions. The ability to operate via a common waveform on different radio platforms is the first of its kind and we are proud to demonstrate this capability at Eurosatory, together with Bittium”, commented Lorenzo Mariani, Managing Director of Leonardo-Finmeccanica Land & Naval Defense Electronics Division.
“We are happy to be collaborating with Leonardo on this ESSOR interoperability demonstration, and proud to be part of the whole ESSOR community. The program has been successful in reaching its objectives and Eurosatory is the perfect place to showcase the results for the whole defense community. Our TAC WIN system operating together with Leonardo’s Swave SDR perfectly demonstrates the ESSOR High Data Rate Waveform’s portability to different SDR platforms”, stated Harri Romppainen, Vice President of Defense at Bittium.
Both Bittium and Leonardo have been part of the ESSOR program since it started in 2009. The aim of the program is to develop European Software Defined Radio technology in order to improve the capabilities for cooperation in coalition operations. The program was established under the umbrella of the European Defense Agency (EDA), sponsored by the governments of Finland, France, Italy, Poland, Spain and Sweden and awarded by the Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’ARmement (OCCAR) to the dedicated joint venture Alliance for ESSOR (a4ESSOR S.A.S.) to be in charge of managing the industrial consortium. Besides Bittium and Leonardo, the other companies involved in the first phase of the ESSOR - which was successfully completed in 2015 - were Indra from Spain, Radmor from Poland, Saab from Sweden and Thales from France. In addition to the
European High Data Rate Waveform, the first phase of the program produced the definition for the European Software Defined Radio Architecture. The parties are currently negotiating the second phase of the program, which will largely focus on achieving operational performance for the ESSOR system.
