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An artist’s impression of a Hunter Class Frigate. (Image: BAE Systems).

The Hunter Class Frigate Program

Rohde & Schwarz as the Communications Systems Integrator (CSI)

In 2024, Rohde & Schwarz Australia was contracted by BAE Systems (Maritime) Australia (BAESMA) to deliver NAVICS® communications technology as the integrated communications and control system for the Royal Australian Navy’s first three Hunter class frigates, establishing the company as the program’s Communications Systems Integrator.

NAVICS will serve as the “central nervous system” of each ship’s communications, delivering integrated and reliable internal and external communications and processing classified information within a multi‑level security (MLS) environment. NAVICS also provides full Voice‑over‑IP (VoIP) functionality and enables easy interfacing with IP‑based subsystems such as radios, broadcast, and intercom systems, supporting the end‑to‑end ship communications design.

Senior stakeholders publicly underscored the collaboration: BAESMA’s Managing Director Craig Lockhart welcomed working alongside R&S Australia to deliver “the most capable anti‑submarine warfare” in service of the Royal Australian Navy, reflecting the program’s capability focus.

Additionally, R&S Australia leadership highlighted the joint efforts between the company’s headquarters, its UK operation, and the Australian subsidiary to support large naval programs across their lifecycle. This is further strengthened by Transfer of Technology (ToT) and knowledge sharing from its German headquarters. R&S Australia’s workforce has already doubled to deliver engineering services for the Integrated Communication System (ICS) and will continue to grow to support the Hunter program.

In August 2025, R&S Australia contracted STS Defence to deliver the topside communications infrastructure – supplying twin integrated main configurable communications masts for each of the first three frigates. When integrated with NAVICS MLS, these masts enable effective communications across a range of frequency bands, supporting ship‑wide connectivity requirements.

In November 2025, R&S Australia further expanded the Australian industry team by awarding Sitep Australia a contract to equip the first three Hunter class frigates with world‑leading antenna technology for the ultra-high-frequency military satellite communications (UHF‑MILSATCOM) system. Sitep Australia’s UHF‑MILSATCOM antenna technology is installed and operational on Anzac class frigates, Hobart class destroyers, and auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) vessels of the Royal Australian Navy.

Rohde & Schwarz Australia has also recently achieved a significant milestone in the delivery of the ICS for the Royal Australian Navy’s HCFP with the completion of the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) in February 2026. Preliminary design demonstrates the system maturity where requirements are allocated to sub-systems, and a system architecture is defined to represent all external and internal interfaces.

R&S Australia’s role as CSI is part of a trusted partnership with both the Commonwealth and BAESMA – with local capacity to innovate, develop, and deliver communication systems central to Australia’s sovereign defence priorities. Across the program, R&S Australia are emphasising in‑country program management, systems engineering, integration, installation, and verification services to introduce the ICS into service – aligned with commitments to Australian industry content and local sustainment.

A Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle of the Bundeswehr (similar to that in service with the Australian Army) undergoing testing in an EMC chamber.
The AS09 and AS10 Batch 1 Hanwha Huntsman self-propelled Howitzer and support vehicles.

EMC Testing for Aerospace and Defence

Rohde & Schwarz provides EMC test solution for Hanwha Defence Australia

Avoiding and overcoming EMC risks to platforms, whether airborne, shipborne or on land, which can jeopardise the security and operational capabilities of electronic systems, is a difficult task. New challenges arise from the increasing number of on-board transmitters for satellite and ground communication, self-defence, and monitoring and surveillance. In addition, there are new technologies, larger bandwidths, higher speeds, and the use of new materials, such as carbon fibre, that have an impact on the complex electromagnetic compatibility. Aerospace and military EMC testing standards are designed to minimise the risk of malfunction or worse, due to interference either within a platform or from external sources.

In September 2024, Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA) announced they had chosen a Rohde & Schwarz designed and built EMC test solution. This capability is part of Stage 2 of the Hanwha Armoured vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) facility where HDA is building the LAND 8116 Phase 1 Huntsman vehicles and LAND 400 Phase 3 Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles.

Rohde & Schwarz test solutions within the Hanwha E3* capability provide crucial electromagnetic interference/compatibility assurance, mitigating the impact of a contested and congested electromagnetic environment on the operational capability of military equipment, systems, and platforms and ensuring they are fully prepared for battlespace operations.

Custom built with a bespoke turntable for heavy vehicles, the E3 capability will be the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere, providing the means for H-ACE-built vehicles to be tested to internationally recognised standards. Rohde & Schwarz Australia will be responsible for all elements of supply, including the in-country coordination and delivery of the E3 capability, and will also train a highly skilled technical workforce to operate the facility.

At the H-ACE located near Geelong in Victoria, HDA will build 129 Redback IFVs under LAND 400 Phase 3 while 30 AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzers and 15 AS10 armoured ammunition resupply vehicles will be built for LAND 8116 Phase 1.

The EMI/EMC chamber at the H-ACE will support a world leading capability for HDA which will also be offered to Defence and Defence Industry customers as a service. The ability of the H-ACE to form the centre of an Australian Industry Capability Hub has been an important consideration in HDA’s planned development and future.

As the leader in EMC spectrum testing, Rohde & Schwarz has been supplying EMC test equipment for over 50 years and its test experts have been advising EMC standard authorities on T&M issues for decades. The R&S ESW range of EMI test receivers at the core of compliance test feature not only the widest dynamic range, highest accuracy, and lowest noise available, but also the ultra-fast time-domain scans to achieve fast and reliable tests in line with up-to-date test regulations. Rohde & Schwarz has a wide-ranging test equipment portfolio that is based on in-depth EMC compliance, pre-compliance, and debugging expertise and supports all relevant commercial, wireless, automotive, military and aerospace EMC standards.

*The components of E3 include Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), Electromagnetic interference (EMI), Electromagnetic pulse (EMP), Electromagnetic vulnerability (EMV), Lightning, Radiation hazards (RADHAZ), Precipitation static (P-Static) and Electrostatic discharge (ESD).

An Evolved Cape Class Patrol Boat of the Royal Australian Navy (artist's impression).
ADV Cape Otway, the first of the Evolved Cape Class Patrol Boats for the RAN.
An R&S Systems Engineer with ADV Cape Otway at the Austal yard in Henderson, Western Australia.

Evolved Cape Class Patrol Boats for the RAN

Rapid knowledge transfer and design of Integrated Communications System

Upon award of the contract to deliver six Evolved Cape Class Patrol Boats (ECCPB) for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Austal undertook an extensive scoping activity to identify a capable partner in Australia to develop the latest generation communications systems. Such a partner would need to be able to meet or exceed the technical scope of the project, while maintaining Australian Industry engagement.

In June 2020, Rohde & Schwarz Australia was chosen to design and develop the Integrated Communications System (ICS) for the ECCPB Project. Completed 5 months later, the ICS architectural design was based on the advanced R&S®NAVICS MLS (multi-level security) IP based Navy Communications switching technology being deployed on the UK’s Royal Navy Type 26 Frigates.

A technology and knowledge transfer arrangement with its parent company in Germany enabled R&S Australia to provide the sovereign capability to configure and adapt the system configuration to meet the RAN’s operational needs. This was achieved using both R&S and third-party products as well as bespoke solutions which had to be designed and manufactured locally specifically for the project.

R&S Australia, in an extraordinary feat of rapid capability delivery, was then able to successfully complete both Factory and Harbour Acceptance Testing for the first-of-class within 11 months and 17 months respectively of contract award. This represented the fastest delivery of an R&S®NAVICS based ICS anywhere in the world, all performed under the pall of the COVID pandemic which imposed significant resource constraints and supplier issues.

The team’s ability to respond and overcome this challenging situation was particularly noteworthy and would not have been possible without an experienced local capability base.

During the last 16 years R&S Australia has established a very competent local systems engineering and integration capability for Australian industry in Sydney to complement its existing maintenance and world-class calibration facilities. This opportunity ensures Australian jobs are created and local supply chain opportunities continue for Australia’s shipbuilding industry.

The ECCPB ICS was designed, built, integrated, configured and tested at the R&S Australia dedicated Integration Facility which allows the company to provide in-country repair and maintenance support for all naval communications systems currently in service with the RAN.

R&S Australia also developed and delivered an ‘Introduction into Service’ training package for the ECCPB ICS to meet the needs of the Australian Navy.

The first of class ADV Cape Otway was formally handed over to the RAN on 23rd March 2022. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on the 19th April that the Department of Defence will order an additional two ECCPBs. Austal deemed Rohde & Schwarz Australia as having proven itself to be capable of not just meeting but exceeding the technical scope of the project.

TAOTs on display at RAAF Base Williamtown, home of No.44 Wing which is responsible for providing air traffic control services to the ADF.
A TAOT being loaded onto a semi-trailer inside the Sydney facility following completion of mid-life upgrades.
A TAOT conducting remote air operations at RAAF Base Scherger in Far North Queensland.

Transportable Air Operations Towers for the RAAF

Rohde & Schwarz delivered the TAOTs as prime systems integrator

In 2008, the Royal Australian Air Force sought the acquisition of a forward deployed air traffic control capability.

Rohde & Schwarz Australia answered the call as the prime and systems integrator, engaging with subcontractors and suppliers in Australia and Europe to provide a solid foundation for the successful delivery of capability and the provision of cost-effective sustainment through life. Three Transportable Air Operations Towers (TAOT) were delivered, with the Rohde & Schwarz Australia / GTESPO (now S&CSPO) team receiving a High Commendation for Defence/Industry Team of the Year for Minor Acquisition in 2009.

In 2019, Rohde & Schwarz Australia commenced a Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) to assure the capability and extend its service life to 2030 and beyond. This has served to not only remediate obsolescence, but also to incorporate new technologies, enhance operational capability, and increase security.

The first tranche of the upgrade implemented a full IP-based communication system, the core of which is the CERTIUM VCS. Other modernised elements include the voice recording system, airfield facilities monitoring and control system, uninterruptable power supply, network and time synchronisation systems.

In the second tranche, the Capability Delivery and Sustainment team is now focussing on modernising the radar situational awareness display, meteorological system, lifting and levelling control system, and refurbishment activities on the cabin and trailer.

Rohde & Schwarz Australia is proud to partner with Surveillance and Control Systems Program Office and the Royal Australian Air Force on this critical capability supporting remote and deployed ADF operations.

General and legal information

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Terms & Conditions of the Prize Draw 10 years Rohde & Schwarz oscilloscopes

1. The prize draw “10 years Rohde & Schwarz oscilloscopes” (herein referred to as “Draw”) is organized by Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG, Mühldorfstraße 15, 81671 Munich, Germany, Tel. +49 89 41 29 0 (herein referred to as “R&S).

2. All participators can register to the draw during January 01, 2020 to December 31, 2020 with their name, company name and business e-mail.

3. Participation is free of charge and not dependent on the purchase of goods or services.

4. The draw is only open to legal entities and only the legal entities are able to win the prizes. An individual person is not allowed to participate on its own name and its own account but as a representative of a legal entity filing the participation form in the name of and on behalf of the legal entity.

5. The prizes to win are 1 of 10 R&S®RTB2000 within the time frame January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020:

Prize: 1x R&S®RTB2000 Digital Oscilloscope

6. The draw takes place at Rohde & Schwarz headquarters, Muehldorstrasse 15, 81671 Munich. The winner of the prizes will be informed by e-mail within 5 (5) working days.

7. The authorized representative of the legal entity shall inform Rohde & Schwarz about the acceptance of the price. In case of the denial of the acceptance, or no answer within two (2) weeks, a new winner will be drawn. If no winner can be determined within four (4) weeks, the draw ends and the prize forfeit.

8. R&S’ employees and members of their families and also person being familiar with the process of the draw and members of their families are excluded from filling the participation form.

9. No cash equivalent or exchange of prizes is allowed. Prizes are non-transferable. All taxes, levies, duties, fees and other charges levied in the participant´s country shall be borne by the participant.

10. Personal data will be processed only for the purpose of this prize draw and deleted four (4) weeks after the draw, if not agreed otherwise.

11. Any Participant who does not comply with these Terms & Conditions may be disqualified by R&S from this Competition. In such cases, prizes can also be withdrawn retrospectively. In case a prize is withdrawn retrospectively due to the non-compliance with these Terms & Conditions, it shall be returned by the respective participant at his cost to R&S’ address mentioned under Nr.1 and a new winner will be drawn.

12. The participants cannot claim the prizes of this draw and no legal recourse is permitted in this respect.

13. The draw and any contractual relationship arising therefrom between R&S and the respective participant shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Germany, without any recourse to the conflict of laws. The courts of Munich, Germany, shall have exclusive jurisdiction in case of any disputes arising directly or indirectly from the participation in this Competition.

* “fast delivery” inside 7 working days applies to the Rohde & Schwarz in-house procedures from order processing through to available ex-factory to ship.