Rohde & Schwarz to provide communications tech for Australia’s Hunter-class frigates

The Royal Australian Navy’s first three Hunter-class frigates will be fitted with Rohde & Schwarz’s NAVICS communications technology under a contract with BAE Systems Maritime Australia.

Rohde & Schwarz Australia will deliver integrated communication and control systems into the first batch of three Hunter frigates, the Australian variant of the BAE Systems-designed and built global combat ship. 

According to the company, NAVICS will be the central nervous system of the Hunter frigate’s communications system. It will provide integrated and reliable internal and external communications and processing of classified information within a multi-level security environment. 

The firm will work closely with BAE Systems and the local industry to maximize opportunities for the Australian industry to assist in the manufacture, integration, testing and commissioning of the ICS. 

“This contract is a clear validation of the highly collaborative working relationship established between Rohde & Schwarz, BAE Systems and the Commonwealth of Australia. This confirmation of Rohde & Schwarz Australia as Communications System Integrator is testament to the dedication and hard work of our project team since we first began work to provide early engineering services for the design and manufacture of the ICS more than five years ago,” Gareth Evans, Managing Director of Rohde & Schwarz Australia, said.

“We are pleased to work alongside the Rohde & Schwarz team and our industry partners to deliver the most capable anti-submarine warfare in service of the Royal Australian Navy. In harnessing world class industry capability, we will ensure that the Royal Australian Navy continues to be equipped with what it needs to fight and win at sea,” Craig Lockhart, Managing Director of BAE Systems Maritime Australia, stated.