Rohde & Schwarz extends RAAF deployed air operations capability into the future

Rohde & Schwarz Australia is completing mid-life upgrades to the Royal Australian Air Force’s Transportable Air Operations Towers with latest IP technology, ensuring the air force has the latest technology to support deployed operations in defense of Australia for years to come. 

The first Transportable Air Operations Tower (TAOT), originally delivered in 2012,has rolled out of the Rohde & Schwarz Australia Systems Integration Facility following its major upgrade.

It will be delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) with completely modernized systems including internet protocol (IP) based voice communications and recording, airfield monitoring and control, network and time synchronization. Other enhancements include an upgrade to IP radios, security hardening, provisioning of new interfaces, and new uninterrupted power supplies, air conditioning, and smoke detectors.

“We delivered the TAOT’s impressive capability to Air Force as prime systems integrator so we’re very proud to be continuing our relationship, ensuring that capability remains at the cutting edge of air traffic control technology,” said Rohde & Schwarz Australia Managing Director Gareth Evans. “I’m especially proud of our team who have managed to complete this complex upgrade despite significant resource constraints and supplier issues imposed by COVID-19.” 

This upgrade will be rolled out across the TAOT fleet and forms the first tranche of the TAOT mid-life upgrade program.

“The TAOTs will continue to be modernized as part of a spiral upgrade program to assure the capability and extend their service life to 2030 and beyond,” Mr. Evans continued.

A TAOT unit was recently deployed to RAAF Base Scherger in Far North Queensland during the biennial multinational exercise ‘Talisman Sabre’ 2021. During Operation ‘Bushfire Assist’ in summer 2019-20 a TAOT assisted civilian and military aircraft conducting remote firefighting and humanitarian aid missions (Australian Dept of Defence video).   

For more than three decades, Rohde & Schwarz Australia has designed and delivered highly secure and reliable mission-critical communications capabilities for air navigation service providers and Defence users within the region.

Leading Aircraftwoman Rebecca Hay and Corporal Thomas Geraghty raise the transportable air operations tower, at RAAF Base Scherger in Queensland, to commence operations on Exercise “Talisman Sabre 2021.” (Image: Commonwealth of Australia)