Sea Power: Competition in short supply for Anzac comms upgrade | ADM Apr 2011

Tom Muir | Canberra

While there may be no shortage of equipment vendors, ADM suspect there will be few prime contenders for Phase 4 of Sea 1442 which aims to modernise the communications capability of the RAN’s eight Anzac class frigates.

Defence minister Stephen Smith announced first pass approval of this phase of the comprehensive modernising of the RAN’s communications and information systems under Sea 1442 late last year. Phase 4 will see the communications capability of the eight Anzac frigates modernised under a program worth up to $500 million with second pass anticipated at some stage in the next two to three years.

The acquisition approach for this phase will be an open tender for the selection of a Prime Contractor for the design, development, integration and installation of the mission system in the Anzac class ships and associated support system, and sustainment of the delivered capability. An RFT is expected to be released in the second quarter of 2011, possibly as soon as this month, with the intention of selecting a single supplier for both acquisition and sustainment.

So why is there a dearth of competitive interest in this seemingly lucrative contract? Two likely contenders for the Prime Contractor role immediately spring to mind. They are:

• Thales Australia, a major force in Australian defence industry, and prime contractor for Sea 1442 Phase 3, responsible for the design and implementation of a Maritime Tactical Wide Area Network (MTWAN) for up to 15 RAN ships, and
• BAE Systems Australia, which is this country’s largest defence company and also prime contractor for the Anzac frigate program.

Thales, (or ADI as it then was) won the Phase 3 contract hands down, despite competition from an earlier BAE Systems, which was soon dropped (too pricey, the rumour at the time went) and Tenix. And while the lengthy final negotiations may have intimated to the outsider that the two bids were well matched, ADI probably thought that the negotiations were unnecessarily protracted.

To many ADI folk, aware that they were the only company to have a prototype running during the Offer Definition Phase, the announcement that their company had been selected came as no surprise, so confident were they of their proposal for Phase 3 of Sea 1442.

Experience counts

This was because Thales had form in a big way. The mission system proposed was based on the RIFAN IP-based intranet system developed by Thales and installed in French naval vessels in place of their ageing analogue communications net. The French intranet demonstrator system was transferred to Thales’ Network Enabled Laboratory (NEWlab) for them to continue research into the technology as the basis for its prototype winning Sea 1442 bid.

Aside from its Thales affiliation, ADI had brought in CSC Australia as teaming partner, an arrangement that had particular advantage for the program. Not only had CSC Australia developed message handling solutions for JP 2054 (Defence Messaging and Directory Environment) but the company was currently installing secret local area networks, including the Mercury message distribution system, in all major RAN ships, under Navy Minor Project 1772.

For Sea 1442 this message distribution solution has been extended to provide a full Message Handling System on both secret and restricted local area networks (LANs) in those ships fully integrated with the MTWAN. The equipment installed under the minor project is being re-used.

Earlier this year it was announced that Thales Australia had built on its successful participation in the establishment of a MTWAN, with the activation of the company’s Phase 3 in-service support contract. This five-year contract involves the provision of engineering, maintenance, supply and help desk support for the system.

Do we thus have Sea 1442 incumbent Thales Australia pitted against Anzac frigate prime (and erstwhile OEM) BAE Systems Australia for Phase 4? The short answer is no. It may be worth looking at the Phase 4 requirements to understand why BAE Systems Australia, which stands to gain in any case from its materiel support role in the Anzac Alliance, has no interest in putting up its hand as Phase 4 prime, but every interest in supporting Thales Australia in that role.

Phase 4 requirements

According to the latest Defence Capability Plan, Sea 1442 Phase 4 will enhance and modernise the communications capability of the Anzac class of ships through:

• modernisation of radio equipment to enhance the data transmission capability and introduce improvements to the initial wide area network capability being delivered by Sea 1442 Phase 3;
• integration of modernised switching capabilities to improve data distribution processes and the level of integration between internal and external communications services; and
• integration of capabilities being delivered to maritime platforms by other approved communications projects.

The support system will include a training system and the establishment of a System Integration and Test Facility.

The scope of Phase 4 will provide increased level of communication systems integration within ships and with other platforms. This may include provision of integrated communications planning and configuration, distributed network management, replacement radios, switches, and voice communication systems. The MTWAN implemented in Phase 3 will be also be upgraded.

Under Phase 3, the MTWAN is being installed in all four FFGs, HMAS Success, and the eight Anzac class FFHs. It may be installed on only one of the LPAs due to the decommissioning of HMAS Manoora. So far the system has been installed on HMAS Success, all four FFGs and in FFHs HMA Ships Warramunga and Perth. A Shore Gateway and Network Operations Centre at Garden Island, Sydney, and training system at HMAS Cerberus are also in place.

Installation in the Anzac class FFHs so far has been undertaken by the Anzac Alliance with Thales responsible for set to work and acceptance testing. It is uncertain whether this contracting model will continue for MTWAN installation in the six remaining FFHs.

From the foregoing, it is evident that Thales Australia, which has implemented the Phase 3 MTWAN in a number of ships to date, and will continue to do so until Phase 3 is completed around 2013, has an ongoing interest in Phase 4 including that aspect involving further upgrades to their particular baby, the MTWAN.

Anzac ship communications

As a preliminary to the establishment of the Phase 3 MTWAN various RAN vessels, including the Anzac FFHs, were equipped with wideband Satcom terminals (ASTIS-MCE) supplied by BAE Systems Australia under an extension to its JP 2008 Phase E contract. The terminals provide the capability to transfer command and control information at very high data rates and are an essential component of IP-based wide area networks using the broadband Satcom bearers under Sea 1442’s IP-based integrated communications architecture.

With priority expected to be given to upgrading/replacing the radio infrastructure on the Anzac class, it may be as well to look at what their communications fit comprises.

ADM understands that the comms suite currently comprises equipment for line of sight (LOS), extended line of sight (ELOS) and beyond line of sight (BLOS) communications in frequency bands ranging from VLF - HF through MF - HF, VHF Tac, VHF Air, UHF Mil, UHF Mil and Satcom to UHF JTIDS. All frequency bands provide voice as well as data (Link) communications in both plain and secure.

There are eight AN/WSC-3 radios of which three are allocated for line of sight and up to two are allocated for FLTSATCOM. Link 11 can be allocated through any of the eight AN/WSC-3 radios. In addition there are three VHF/UHF radios and six HF transmitters and 10 receivers. The FFHs also have the mini DAMA and two HPA radios that provide for FLTSATCOM.

At this stage, it is anticipated that all the AN/WSC-3s will be replaced. Known as the Whisky 3, the AN/WSC-3 Ultra High Frequency Transceiver is the primary shipboard terminal for Ship to Shore Satellite Communications and Ship-to-Ship Line-of-Sight Communications. The RAN dropped out of the US Navy’s improvement chain for the Whisky 3 series so some are now orphans in terms of their supportability.

The scope of the Phase 4 requirement includes upgrading the existing HF network and the RF system including infrastructure, for example the radio, antenna, and RF distribution sub-systems, the Red/Black switching system including the data/video/voice switching subsystems, and the cryptographic system.

The design goal of the project is to maximise use of IP utilising converged voice and data (eg IP packet switching, VoIP), through use of multi-band software definable radios, with embedded crypto/modems and multi level security technologies.

As a sensible preliminary to determining the Phase 4 requirements, a laboratory was established to see how well the Whisky 3s handled the high data rates now sought. Radios were leased from Collins and Rohde & Schwarz (Collins R210 and R&S M3SR) for comparative purposes. A particular feature was their operation with the Collins subnet relay (SNR) controller.

SNR is a suite of protocols developed for the navies of Australia, Canada, NZ, the UK and the US to permit the deployment of masterless, ad-hoc, self-configuring tactical IP networks with inherent relay capabilities.

LOS radio assets, primarily in the VHF and UHF bands, are used to give tactical commanders an intra-task-group data networking system under their local control, without having to rely on strategic reach-back through satellite.

It seems that the Phase 4 laboratory tests highlighted the advantages of one of the leased radios including in respect to SNR capability. The system was then purchased and installed on one of the FFHs for apparently further successful demonstration at the RIMPAC exercise last year.

Communications acquisition approach

Assuming that Thales Australia teams with BAE Systems Australia to bid for the Phase 4 contract, it is anticipated that its proposal to the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) would include its preferred solution for the upgraded Anzac communications system.

Thales RIFAN 1 experience may well direct it to the clean sweep that Rohde & Schwarz has had with the French Navy’s switch from analogue to digital communications under Stage 1 of the RIFAN program, which has seen some 67 vessels connected over a secure IP network designed to provide a common operational picture. The services include VoIP, e-mail, video conferencing and cooperative mapping on manoeuvres.

Under RIFAN stage 2, which will eventually equip 116 ships and 64 aircraft over a period of five years, Rohde & Schwarz will again supply RIFAN’s frequency-hopping VHF/UHF radios, which will also allow broadband IP transmission capability between ships.

And late last year Rohde & Schwarz (Australia) Pty Ltd was contracted by Raytheon Australia, on behalf of the AWD Alliance, to supply the suite of HF, VHF and UHF radio equipment to equip Australia’s Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyers (AWDs). The radio equipment comprises the R&S M3SR Series 4100 and R&S M3SR Series 4400 software defined radios with associated filters/combiners and antennas.

Phase 4 potential primes and suppliers

For the Anzac communications requirement with its MTWAN IP connotations,

Rohde & Schwarz will almost certainly offer their multiband software definable radios, including the M3SR 4100 HF and the 4400 VHF and UHF series. And while L-3 Communications will likely offer their MarCom Integrated Digital Switch and Symphony Management System, the foundation of their single system approach to maritime communications (which is fielded on the RAN’s HMAS Sirius, the Canberra Class LHDs and the RNZN’s two Anzac class ships) ADM suspects that Thales will select Rohde & Schwarz as communications system supplier for Sea 1442 Phase 4.

But dark horses abound. There are rumours that Thales may have an exclusive arrangement with General Dynamics C4 systems to supply their Digital Modular Radio (DMR) which, in a single radio for the entire 2MHz-2GHz band, appears to meet most of the Phase 4 requirements.  It also boasts embedded Type 1 Encryption and embedded red/black switching and routing with full logistical support in the US Navy system.

Raytheon Australia is believed to be keen to bid as prime and, with some

history with Rohde & Schwarz, may be one of the dark horses in this competition. Lockheed Martin could also mount a strong case as both prime contractor and equipment supplier, and Boeing may also be interested in the prime role with considerable experience in supporting and improving the Collins submarine communications system.

In addition to offerings from Rohde & Schwartz, L-3 and GD, other contenders for the Phase 4 communications equipment, may well include Rockwell Collins and Selex (not to be underestimated).

Phase 5 requirements

Sea 1442 Phase 5, with First Pass approval some six to seven years away and contract value between $300 million and $500 million, will enhance and modernise the communications capability of the Landing Helicopter Dock ships (LHD) and AWD platforms including:

• modernisation and improvements to the technology for these platforms baselined on an initial wide area network capability being delivered by Sea 1442 Phase 4; and
• provision of communications systems improvements for LHD and AWD platforms (noting that L-3 Communications is communications supplier for the LHD and Rohde & Schwarz for the AWD).

According to the latest 2010 DCP, the acquisition approach for this phase is likely to be open tender for the selection of a Prime Systems Integrator for the communications system and some ship integration, with other ship integration likely to be pursued through existing support mechanisms. The project will seek to maximise the use of COTS and MOTS (commercial and military off the shelf ) materiel.

ADM understands the approved scope for JP 2048 Phases 4 A and B includes a MTWAN capability in the LHD ships. Since the AWD and LHD ships will have a life of type in excess of 40 years, several systems will need to be updated due to potential equipment obsolescence or capability improvements. Sea 1442 Phase 5 is planned to address these issues and cater for growth in the Navy’s communications capability requirements to support the effective conduct of future operations.