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Thales to equip Austrian forces with TRC 4000 34 Mbps tactical LOS radio

19 March 2007

Thales has signed a contract with ESL Advanced Information Technology of Austria to supply the TRC 4000 34 Mbps line-of-sight (LOS) radio for the Austrian armed forces. Deliveries will begin in mid-2007 and will continue through to 2008.

The PTPRS system is designed to provide the increased bandwidth required by the Austrian armed forces for high-speed data transmission and will be integrated with their existing systems.

The Thales TRC 4000 radio offers data rates from 64 kbps to 34 Mbps duplex to support C4ISR and other bandwidth-intensive applications. As a component of the PTPRS data network, the TRC 4000 radio will provide secure high-performance communications for tactical units and operational bases.

This contract award follows a series of stringent laboratory tests and field trials conducted with the Austrian armed forces under operational conditions. The field trials were an opportunity to demonstrate the TRC 4000 radio's automatic alignment system, which makes it possible to establish a radio link in less than four minutes.

A fibre optic link between the communication vehicle and antenna (two kilometres) allows for flexible network architectures, and the TRC 4000 radio's long range capabilities, ECCM anti-jamming functions and very simple repeater configuration were also decisive factors in the Austrian forces' decision.

The TRC 4000 uses NATO Band IV (4.4 to 5.0 GHz) to achieve data rates of 34 Mbps and offers an excellent combination of range, bandwidth and functionality, as well as exceptional resistance to jamming. It incorporates the latest technologies including an integrated panel antenna offering low wind resistance, fibre optic link and compact easy-to-use equipment.

Thales is one of the world's leading suppliers of tactical LOS radios. The TRC 4000 radio is in operational service with numerous armed forces, most notably in France, Switzerland and the Middle East. The TRC 4000 34 Mbps has also been selected for the Falcon programme in the United Kingdom.

Note to editors
* The PTPRS programme will replace previous-generation products that operate in NATO Band I (220 to 400 MHz) and do not allow data rates beyond 1 Mbps. The PTPRS with Thales TRC 4000 34 Mbps radio will support secure transmissions of huge volumes of data between headquarters and operational unit commanders in the field.

About Thales
Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, serving defence, aerospace and security markets worldwide, supported by comprehensive services. The group's civil and military businesses are developed in parallel to serve a single objective: the security of people, property and nations. Leveraging a global network of high-level researchers, Thales offers a capability, unmatched in Europe, to develop and deploy critical information systems. Thales employs 70,000 people in 50 countries and in 2006 generated revenues of € 10.3 billion, with a record order book of over € 20 billion.