Page 11 - AVALON 2023 - Day 1 | DAILY NEWS

PROJECT CURRAWONG – BEARER OF GOOD NEWS

Boeing Defence Australia has been busy achieved an initial operating capability in Under Release 3, an important capa-
supplying the Australian Defence Force April 2018. Overall, 340 NAMs were sup- bility was satellite connectivity for
(ADF) with a deployable battlespace com- plied to the ADF. Bushmaster vehicles to give command-
munications system under the AUD650 ers situational awareness whilst mobile.
million (USD468 million) Project Currawong, Called Headquarters On-the-Move, 18
also known as Project JP2072 Phase 2B. Centrepieces of the NAM are the Tactical Bushmasters were thus equipped.
Edge Server and Tactical Services Router,
which host IP networking, routing, video,
Put as simply as possible, in the words of voice and data services. The NAM inter- Another feature is Deployable Data Centres
its developer, ‘The Currawong Battlefield faces with a bearer network such as that provide 50-500 users with access
Communications System includes all of the high-capacity line-of-sight Harris radios, to classified networks. This permits an
technology and hardware needed to pro- long-haul fibre and satellite terminals. unprecedented capability to scale-up
vide secure communications services for communications and establish deployed
defence personnel deployed to isolated and headquarter operations. A total of 26 cen-
harsh environments with access to none of Another core is Mission System tres were acquired, and they were just
the network communications we are accus- Management software, which selects the accepted into service operationally in
tomed to in everyday life such as mobile optimal bearer for each task. Currawong mid-February.
phones and the internet.’ permits access to six types of bearers, from
long-haul fibre to satellite communications All these aspects were completely built
The Australian Army is the primary (SATCOM) terminals. by Australian engineers, and Minge said
recipient of this Integrated Battlespace it is ‘definitely a sovereign capability that
Telecommunications Network, but the we’re very proud of’. Furthermore, instead
RAAF also employs it. The contract was Minge explained that an important charac- of adopting commercial off-the-shelf hard-
awarded to Boeing defence Australia on 3 teristic of the system is that it is self-forming ware from overseas as originally planned,
September 2015. and self-healing, switching seamlessly Boeing Defence Australia developed these
between bearers when the need arises. and more than 2,000 modules were deliv-
ered by local industry.
Tom Minge, Boeing Defence Australia’s
Programme Manager - Currawong, stated Also revolutionary for the ADF are External
that the project is ‘at the end of our acqui- Network Access Points that allow connec- The company is also responsible for the
sition journey,’ since the hardware has all tions to civilian internet infrastructure and Capability Enhancement Programme,
been delivered. ‘Where we are now in the untrusted public networks, all the while which is essentially a spiral upgrade of
acquisition programme is just in delivery maintaining secure communications. technology and capability. Minge explained,
and training,’ he said. Final operational ‘That is a big focus area for us right now.’
capability is expected later this year. It brings in new bearers and mesh radio
Release 2 offered mostly vehicle-based capabilities, plus more miniature versions
of the system.
The heart of the system is the Network equipment, plus additional NAMs, and this
Access Module (NAM), a hardware case phase ended in 2021. It supplied 35 beyond-
containing everything needed to achieve line-of-sight troposphere communication Since 2018, Boeing Defence Australia has
secure communications. Its lightweight systems plus 24 trailer-mounted Medium held a support contract to keep Currawong
design means it is somewhat portable. SATCOM Terminals with a 2.5m-diameter operational, and it has several extension
dish. Towed by Hawkeis, these can access options out to 2030. From a high of 250
the US-owned Wideband Global SATCOM personnel, Boeing Defence Australia still
Project Currawong has had three phases. (WGS) or civilian satellite networks from employs nearly 200 workers for Project
Release 1, providing the core network, anywhere. Currawong.

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