Rohde & Schwarz to Provide Royal Malaysian Navy with IP-Based Integrated Comms System

19 April 2016

Rohde & Schwarz has been awarded a contract by Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn. Bhd. (BNS) to equip six vessels for the Royal Malaysian Navy with its full turnkey integrated communications system (ICS). The core component is R&S NAVICS, a comprehensive technology for next generation naval communications. The contract is part of a series of international successes for Rohde & Schwarz that include projects in the UK, Australia, the Netherlands and Spain. (Photo: DPM)

The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has selected Rohde & Schwarz (at DSA 2016: hall 1, booth 1022) to provide state-of-the-art, IP-based communications systems for its Second Generation Patrol Vessel - Littoral Combat Ships (SGPV-LCS). BNS is in progress of building the vessels in its shipyard in Malaysia based on the GOWIND class design. The project is being implemented with local Malaysian integration capability and life time support will be handled by local Rohde & Schwarz experts.

“Adopting IP-based technologies is an important step for modern naval communications,” Adm. Ahmad Kamarulzaman, Chief of Navy, RMN, said. “Because it meets both today’s and tomorrow’s diverse onboard requirements. It also keeps us in step with the latest digital computing and communications technology. We are proud to bring this state-of-the-art equipment onboard our latest vessels. With Rohde & Schwarz Malaysia as our contractual partner, we can look forward to a long-lasting cooperation and are confident of achieving the local industrialization targets. This strategy will be instrumental in the lifetime support of this project with the RMN.”

R&S NAVICS is the core component for the next generation of highly integrated communications systems for naval applications. The innovative solution offers pioneering technology as well as user friendliness Operation of the technically complex system is kept uncomplicated through the use of an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI). With regard to operating procedures and icons, the intuitive user interface for the voice terminals with touchscreen is based on modern smartphones. Cutting-edge display technology provides good readability. The softkey type is designed for use under rough environmental conditions, such as those which can prevail on deck or in the machine room. The R&S NAVICS, a fully VoIP-based switching system, connects on-board voice terminals and all other internal and external communications subsystems via a standardized and redundant IP network.
For external communications Rohde & Schwarz supplies latest generation software defined VHF/UHF and HF transceivers from the R&S M3SR family of radios (R&S Series4400 and R&S Series4100). The system also integrates the internal communication subsystems like broadcast and alarms, ship’s telephony, wireless headsets and other subsystems. The system also includes a Rohde & Schwarz onboard COMINT/C-ESM solution.

(Miltech)