Page 6 - Australian Defence Magazine September 2019
P. 6

NEWS REVIEW
INDUSTRY UPDATE
Mobile battlespace comms trialled at EX Talisman Sabre
A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND prototype of ‘on- the-move’ battlespace communication tech- nology was put to the test at Ex Talisman Sa- bre, 18 months ahead of scheduled release.
Developed as part of Boeing Defence Australia’s (BDA) Project Currawong and integrated into an armoured ve- hicle, the Headquarters on the Move (HQOTM) capability provides com- manders with unprecedented mobile situational awareness, decision-making ability, and voice connectivity.
“Even in the most remote locations, and when travelling at speed, the vehicle can link via satellite to the ADF’s secure com- munications network, giving commanders real-time information on the enemy’s loca- tion and the ability to communicate with land-based forces and ADF headquarters from anywhere,” Project Currawong pro- gram director Ian Vett said.
Exercise Talisman Sabre provided the ideal initial testing ground for the capa- bility. Trialling on exercise enabled front- line soldiers to give feedback on opera-
tional functionality as well as providing Boeing engineers with access to realistic war-like scenarios to continue to innovate and improve the equipment’s capability.
“HQOTM is not scheduled to be re- leased until late 2020. However, the bi-annual Talisman Sabre field training exercise provided an exceptional oppor- tunity for BDA to demonstrate and test this ground-breaking future capability,” Vett said. “It also helps the customer to get an early and more complete under- standing of the Currawong system’s un- questionable capacity to redefine the fu- ture of battlespace communication.”
HQOTM is integrated into the Bush- master Protected Mobility Vehicles.
The 3rd Combat Signal Regiment tweet- ed that the PMV will provide a step-change in mobile information and communication services to Commanders and their staffs across a range of mission sets.
In addition to demonstrating the on- the-move capability, Currawong’s Release 1 equipment – comprising a large man-
Currawong tech got quite the work out at EX Talisman Sabre this year.
portable, modular core black data network, communication bearers, a mission system manager, and field voice services – was fully deployed at Talisman Sabre.
Encompassing the key foundational elements of the Currawong communica- tion network, Release 1 was completed in April 2019.
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PACIFIC 2019
• In depth look at Future
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6 | September 2019 | www.australiandefence.com.au
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