The integrated communication system that Rohde & Schwarz is supplying for the Royal Australian Navy's new Hunter-class frigates will be equipped with communication masts from STS Defence.

Three years ago, Rohde & Schwarz Australia was commissioned by prime contractor BAE Systems Australia to supply the integrated communication system for the Hunter class frigates that Australia plans to put into service from 2032 ESuT reported.

Now the development is so far advanced that Rohde & Schwarz Australia has been awarded the contract to manufacture the two integrated, configurable main communication masts for the first three Hunter-class frigates. According to information from Rohde & Schwarz on 11 August, the British communications specialist STS Defence is the contractor that has designed the critical communications masts based on the main communications mast that the company supplied for the British Royal Navy's Type 26 frigates.

"We are delighted to have STS Defence on board as a key supplier for the HCFP," said Gareth Evans, Managing Director of Rohde & Schwarz Australia. "STS Defence's expertise in the design and manufacture of high quality communication masts will be critical to the success of the Hunter programme."

The communication masts will carry a series of antennas that enable line-of-sight radio links across different frequency bands, as well as masthead navigation lights, writes Rohde & Schwarz. Special insulation shields made of composite materials will provide isolation between the different frequency bands. In conjunction with the Naval Integrated Communications System (NAVICS) from Rohde & Schwarz as a multi-level security system for networking voice, data and IP communications, the communication masts will enable the Hunter-class frigates to communicate effectively across different frequency bands.

STS Defence, as design manager for the masts, has successfully completed the scope, risk mitigation and detailed design studies and has already achieved Lloyd's certification. The masts will be designed and manufactured by Mainstay Marine Solutions Ltd in Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, and shipped to Adelaide, Australia, where they will be installed on the Hunter-class frigates at Osborne Naval Shipyard.

"Our team has worked closely with Rohde & Schwarz Australia to ensure the communication masts meet the Royal Australian Navy's requirements and we look forward to delivering high quality products that will contribute to the success of the Hunter frigate programme," said Ben Stancliffe, Managing Director of STS Defence. "We are confident that STS Defence will deliver high quality communication masts that will integrate with the ship and the NAVICS MLS system and meet the Royal Australian Navy's requirements."

Source: wehrwirtschaft/heiming

Photo. Rohde and Schwarz