Posted by Courtney E. Howard
OULU, Finland, 12 Sept. 2011. Officials of the Finnish Defence Forces needed a tactical communications network. They found their solution at Elektrobit Corp. (EB; NASDAQ-OMX:EBC1V), a developer of embedded technology with offices in Finland and the U.S. Finnish Defence Forces officials have selected the EB Tactical Wireless IP Network, targeted at defense forces and defense systems integrators. EB engineers will develop a wireless IP network to meet the specific needs of Finnish Defence Forces and deliver the first pilot series of the software-defined radios. The contract is valued at EUR 15.6 million (excl. VAT) and extends until the first half of 2013.
The EB Tactical Wireless IP Network is a stand-alone military wireless broadband network able to be deployed virtually anywhere. It helps form an independent IP network compatible with existing infrastructure (wire-line and wireless). It is based on software-defined radio and versatile, upgradeable, and easy to adapt. It enables a mesh network solution with a high data rate and automatic network configuration required by battle groups on the move.
Network node and router functionality are integrated into a single product, developed to be compatible with the SCA and ESSOR software architectures.
"The defense forces require an even better situational awareness of the status in the field, forces need effective co-ordination and communication infrastructure, logistics needs to be planned online--this growing data flow requires the digitalization of command and control systems. High capacity wireless IP backbone solutions, like the EB Tactical Wireless IP network, build the core of our digitalization and enables the creation of a tactical communications network," says Juha Mattila, colonel at Finnish Defence Forces, C4IS Division. "This compact software-defined radio-based solution allows us to use less units, resulting in space savings and lower maintenance costs. It brings flexibility with multi-channel functionality and enables us to adapt to changes through the whole lifecycle."
