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Saab Global

Securing New Zealand’s naval communications

2 min read

An ‘all-platform’ integrated communication system, will provide safe communication links for the Royal Australian Navy’s newest and largest ship in its fleet. Saab’s integrated communication system, TactiCall, is safeguarding communication links for the Royal New Zealand Navy’s new maritime sustainment capability ship, NUSHIP Aotearoa.

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The ship built in Korea by Hyundai Heavy Industries is a 26,000 tonne auxiliary ship supplying marine diesel, aviation fuel, some food and ammunition ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore.

With TactiCall on board, the ship can communicate with any communication system, regardless of radioband, frequency or hardware, which gives Navy a unique strategic advantage,” said Saab Australia’s James Lawless.

“TactiCall now guarantees secure, reliable communication for any future HMAS Aotearoa mission; whether it be international, a joint coalition, or sole New Zealand national operation”, said James Lawless.

Hyundai Heavy Industries installed Tactical as an integrated communication system to connect all external and internal communications, including sensitive, encrypted data.

Royal New Zealand Navy’s Lieutenant Guy van der Zeyden who manages the ship’s communications systems said, “one of the key differentiators was that TactiCall is designed around security and has the ability to handle different levels of security at a very high assurance level EAL5+ against the common criteria”.

“Because TactiCall is an integrated communication system, operators will use it to connect all communications through the one easy to use user interface”, said Lieutenant van der Zeyden.

“TactiCall’s highly intuitive interface offers excellent flexibility for users, allowing us to be ready for the full range of operational scenarios.

TactiCall has been successfully installed and “worked perfectly during the ships sea trials”, said Lieutenant van der Zeyden.

Tacticall is completely modular, and can easily integrate new or legacy third party equipment so will be able to grow adapt with the whole fleet.

The next step for the New Zealand Maritime Sustainment Capability Project will be delivery of the ship to New Zealand, installing the classified equipment on board Aotearoa in her home port, then commissioning.