Newswire & Press Release / A4ESSOR and OCCAR sign ESSOR New Capabilities (ENC) contracts and embark on new telecommunications projects focused on … – Military / Defense / Homeland Security – Thales Group
Scott P. Arroyo
7 min read
a4ESSOR SAS (Alliance for ESSOR), a multinational joint venture that develops secure European software-defined radio (SDR) technology, has signed a supply contract with the European Intergovernmental Organization for Armaments Cooperation (OCCAR) for the realization of new ESSOR (ENC) capacities. This initiative received funding from the European Defense Industrial Development Program (EDIDP) under grant agreement No 044.
ENC aims to develop three new waveforms – ESSOR NBWF, ESSOR 3DWF and ESSOR SATCOM WF – which will increase the interoperability of European armed forces. In addition, the project will also see the alliance improve the ESSOR framework, in order to manage waveforms throughout their lifecycle and ensure their interoperability when ported to national radio terminals.
Lino Laganà, president and CEO of a4ESSOR, underlined that the new contract is one of the main catalysts for common European defense. He said it was a privilege and a great responsibility to execute these new projects funded by the European Commission and six ESSOR countries, Italy, France, Spain, Poland, Germany and Finland, as a result of the successful work done on the first ESSOR broadband waveform. and the ESSOR framework.
The new project is part of the ESSOR program, which aims to improve the interoperability and security of tactical ground communications (ESSOR WBWF and ESSOR NBWF), air-ground-air (ESSOR 3DWF) and satellite communications (ESSOR SATCOM WF) . Guaranteeing compliance with software radio platforms based on ESSOR and Software Communication Architecture (SCA), and applying a very strict methodology for qualifying interoperability between all radios that host these waveforms, the program guarantees effective interoperability of the Forces on the field.
The supply contract follows the EDIDP ESSOR grant agreement, which OCCAR, on behalf of the European Commission, and the partners signed last July. It will include the participation of new companies from non-ESSOR countries, namely Telespazio Belgium, a subsidiary of Telespazio (joint venture between Leonardo, 67%, and Thales, 33%) and Edisoft (Portugal).
The EDIDP, the preparatory phase of the European Defense Fund (EDF), is an industrial program of the European Union funded by the European Commission to support the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the European defense industry.
About ESSOR (European Secure SOftware Defined Radio)
The objective of the ESSOR program is to develop pan-European software-defined radio (SDR) technology in order to improve the capacity of the armed forces to cooperate in coalition operations. The program was launched in 2009 under the aegis of the European Defense Agency (EDA) and is currently sponsored by the governments of Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain. In addition to the ESSOR WBWF (ESSOR Wide Band Waveform), the program produced and validated the definition of a European SDR architecture, which was carried and qualified on six different European platforms. The benefits of waveform interoperability are regularly demonstrated by network tests involving different national platforms.
About a4ESSOR SAS
a4ESSOR SAS is a joint venture organized and existing under the laws of France, created by six leading EU companies: Bittium Wireless Ltd, Indra, Leonardo Spa, Radmor SA, Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG and Thales Communications & Security SAS) in order to coordinate partner activities, manage ESSOR contracts and promote ESSOR products.
President and CEO – Lino Laganà – lino.lagana[.]leonardocompany.com
About Bittium – Defense & Security
Bittium (bittium.com) is a trusted Finnish company with over 35 years of experience in advanced radio communication technologies. For the defense and security market, Bittium provides the most modern products and solutions for tactical and secure communications. Tactical communications products and solutions bring broadband data and voice to all troops on the battlefield. For secure communications, Bittium offers proven mobile devices and certified cybersecurity solutions up to CONFIDENTIAL level. In 2020, net sales amounted to 78.4 million euros and operating income to 2.1 million euros.
Press contact: Karoliina Malmi; T: +358 40 344 3507 – E: defense[.]bittium.com.
About Indra
Indra (indracompany.com) is one of the world’s leading technology and consulting companies and the technology partner for the core businesses of its clients worldwide. It is a global leader in providing proprietary solutions in specific segments of the transport and defense markets, and a leading company in digital transformation and information technology consulting in Spain and Latin America through its Minsait subsidiary. products, with high added value and with a strong innovation component. In fiscal year 2020, Indra achieved a turnover of 3.043 billion euros, nearly 48,000 employees, a local presence in 46 countries and business operations in more than 140 countries.
Press service: T: + (34) 91 480 71 12 – E: indraprensa[.]indra.com.
About Leonardo
Leonardo, a global high-tech company, is one of the top ten global players in aerospace, defense and security and is the leading Italian industrial company. Organized into five business divisions, Leonardo has a significant industrial presence in Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland and the United States, where it also operates through subsidiaries such as Leonardo DRS (defense electronics), and joint- ventures and partnerships: ATR, MBDA, Telespazio, Thales Alenia Space and Avio. Leonardo is present in the most important international markets by leveraging its technological and product leadership areas (helicopters, aircraft, aerostructures, electronics, cybersecurity and space). Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (LDO), Leonardo achieved in 2020 a consolidated turnover of 13.4 billion euros and invested 1.6 billion euros in Research and Development. The Group has been part of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) since 2010 and is named the world leader in sustainable development in the aerospace and defense sector for the second consecutive year by the DJSI in 2020.
Press contact: Flavia Negretti; T: +39 334 6378422 – E: flavia.negretti[.]leonardocompany.com.
About Radmor
RADMOR SA (radmor.com.pl) is part of the WB Group, the largest Polish private equity group engaged in the defense industry. RADMOR is a designer, manufacturer and supplier of modern radio communication solutions for the military and civilian services. The company carries out Polish state defense and security activities, manufactures military radios and distributes civilian radios. RADMOR engineers focus on the research and development of modern radio communication systems as well as devices (handheld computers, manpacks and vehicular radios operating in the HF / VHF / UHF and 2.4 GHz bands), forms of wave (narrowband / wideband) and specialized software (eg SCA, SCIP, NEW). All these activities are supported by our own accredited laboratory (environmental exposure, EMC compatibility) and production line. RADMOR and members of the WB group supply complete military systems to many militaries around the world.
Press contact: Tomasz Gil; T: +48 58 76 55 610 / +48 603 993 390 – E: tomasz.gil[.]radmor.com.pl.
About Rohde & Schwarz
Rohde & Schwarz (rohde-schwarz.com) is a leading provider of solutions in the fields of test and measurement, broadcast and media, aerospace, defense, security and networks and cybersecurity. The technology group’s innovative communications, information and security products help industry and government customers ensure a safer and more connected world. As of June 30, 2020, Rohde & Schwarz had approximately 12,300 employees worldwide. The independent group achieved net sales of 2.58 billion euros in the 2019/2020 financial year (July to June). The company is headquartered in Munich, Germany, and has subsidiaries in more than 70 countries, with regional centers in Asia and America. Rohde & Schwarz is the main supplier of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) Joint Radio System (SVFuA, series name: SOVERON D).
Press contact: Dennis-P. Merklinghaus – +49 89 4129 15671 – Dennis-Peter.Merklinghaus[.]rohde-schwarz.com
About Thales
Thales (thalesgroup.com) is a global leader in advanced technologies, investing in digital and deep tech innovations, connectivity, big data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum computing to build a crucial confident future for the development of our societies. The Group offers its customers companies, organizations and governments in the fields of defense, aeronautics, space, transport, digital identity and security solutions, services and products that help them to fulfill their essential role, the consideration of the individual being the driving force of all decisions.
Thales has 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2020, the Group achieved sales of 17 billion euros.
About Edisoft
EDISOFT is a joint venture between Thales, NAV Portugal and idD Portugal Defense, which promotes and provides innovative solutions that improve the security of its customers’ critical systems, on land, sea, air, space and cyberspace, thanks to a technical team of excellence. Headquartered in Lisbon and operating a space ground station on the island of Santa Maria, Azores, EDISOFT focuses on supplying to Portuguese entities with responsibilities in aeronautics, space, security and defends permanent access to the most advanced solutions, both in times of conflict and in times of peace. From the integration of world-class naval and ISR systems to the provision of highly critical maritime and space security services, EDISOFT provides cutting-edge real-time ATM, C2 and space software to some of the world’s most demanding customers.
About Telespazio Belgium
Telespazio Belgium, a subsidiary of Telespazio (joint venture between Leonardo, 67%, and Thales, 33%), is a service company located in Transinne, in the Parc Galaxia, which operates in fields related to engineering and operation of space systems. Telespazio Belgium provides cutting-edge services and applications, engineering services and support in the field of space programs and high-tech projects. As part of one of the main global operators in the field of satellite solutions and services, Telespazio Belgium is at the forefront of the provision of advanced and innovative satellite services in the fields of navigation, Earth observation and space operations.
