Manpack Radios Successfully Tested for NATO Use

Thales radios for use in NATO enhanced Forward Presence were tested in an intensive four-week operational trial under the direction of the Army Development Office. 

These tests were conducted with the participation of the Army Development Office, the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), the German Army’s “Test and Trial” teams and Dutch and French Armed Forces.

The particular focus of the procurement was to provide modern, encrypted, electronic counter countermeasure (ECCM)-capable command and control radios for the multinational deployment of the enhanced Forward Presence, which can transmit voice in parallel with data and their own position.

Although the soldiers had not received any training, only a short briefing, it was possible to establish operational readiness in under an hour..The radios also impressed with a stable radio network and in the range tests.

The purpose of NATO enhanced Forward Presence is to strengthen its defensive and deterrent posture on Europe’s eastern flank. NATO battlegroups are deployed to the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as well as to Poland and led by the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and the United States respectively.

Christoph Ruffner, CEO and Country Director, Thales Deutschland, commented, “During the four-week operational test, Thales PR4G and SYNAPS-H radios met the requirements so effectively that the system is deemed suitable for introduction into the German Armed Forces.

“We are very pleased that there are no more obstacles for the operational use of the radios in Lithuania, where the deployed forces will have protected, modern radios.”