OCCAR and a4ESSOR Sign Contract for Tactical Communications Advancement

Munich – The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) and a4ESSOR S.A.S. have signed a procurement contract valued at over 47 million EUR. This agreement focuses on the capability deployment of the ESSOR High Data Rate Waveform (EHDRWF), a secure software-defined radio (SDR) technology developed by the multinational joint venture a4ESSOR.

The contract, designated ESSOR Development Stage #4 (ES4), will involve the design of a common mission framework. This framework aims to enable shared planning of network parameters for the EHDRWF. The objective is to enhance interoperability at the operational level, ensuring swift and accurate deployment of multinational EHDRWF networks within national command and control systems.

a4ESSOR will conduct field tests of the EHDRWF across various radio systems to assess the waveform's maturity, performance, and reliability. These tests will cover diverse operational environments, including urban, rural, and hilly terrains, as well as line-of-sight, non-line-of-sight, and mobility scenarios. The performance under potential interference conditions will also be analyzed. The contract includes establishing an ESSOR in-service support framework and a reference laboratory for interoperability validation.

Lino Laganà, President and General Manager of a4ESSOR, highlighted the contract's role in strengthening European and NATO defense cooperation. He stated that the initiative aligns with the European Union's strategic goals of enhancing defense collaboration and autonomy. The ESSOR HDRWF standard, adopted as NATO STANAG 5651 in 2023, is designed to facilitate seamless communication across different national radio platforms.