EADS Defence & Security, the Agent, and its co-contractors DCNS and Rohde & Schwarz, have been notified on december 22 2008, from the DGA procurement branch of the French Ministry of Defence for stage 2 of the RIFAN programme to equip the French naval air arm on exercises or on missions with a true intranet for surface ships, submarines and aircraft within the force.

The framework contract, worth 240 million euros, covers the design and deployment of an IP communication system to equip 116 ships and 64 aircraft over a period of five years, and the provision of operational support for an additional five years.

RIFAN stage 2, the IP backbone for the naval air arm, is designed to be incorporated into the master plan of the Navy Information and Combat System. It will ensure broadband information exchange between onboard business applications, will be open to onboard staff information systems and will cover all levels of information sensitivity, from unclassified to NATO classified. This second stage follows on from the RIFAN Operation stage 1 to equip French Navy level one ships.

RIFAN stage 2 will also implement a Network Management Capacity to supervise and manage the complete network of ships and aircraft from sites based on land. This site will also have a global view of security-related incidents and will control the confidentiality, integrity and availability of operational data.

New V/UHF radios supplied by Rohde & Schwarz, already a renowned partner to the French Navy, will offer broadband IP transmission capability between ships, in addition to the renewal of the fixed-frequency and frequency-hopping voice function. “The historical presence of Rohde & Schwarz in many naval forces around the world has culminated in today’s selection for the RIFAN2 programme. We are proud that the excellence of our radio technologies, associated with the acknowledged expertise of our teams, will now be involved in this major French Navy project,” said Jean-Christophe Prunet, Chairman of Rohde & Schwarz France.

Within the framework of this grouping, EADS DS has subcontracted the development of the administration and supervision centre for this critical and highly secured information and communication system to CS Communication et Systèmes, a company with many years of experience with major accounts.

DCNS, a major partner of the French Navy, will provide engineering services, including installation studies for RIFAN2 on surface ships and submarines, and equipment deployment. “This success illustrates the quality of services supplied by DCNS. It reinforces the major role of the company in the field of onboard system integration by demonstrating the expertise of DCNS in this field,” observes Christian Foissey, Director of DCNS Services Division.

EADS Defence & Security contributes its capabilities as a prime contractor of major programmes, and its expertise as a designer of secure telecom networks and information systems for the armed forces. According to Hervé Guillou, CEO of the Defence and Communications Systems Business Unit of EADS Defence & Security, “This new contract reinforces our position in the naval sector, where we are already involved in major programmes, and proves once again the effectiveness of our offering based on the best in Europe for each of our home countries.”

Defence and Communications Systems (DCS) is an integrated activity of EADS Defence & Security (DS). DS is a systems solutions provider for armed forces and civil security worldwide. Its portfolio ranges from sensors and secure networks through missiles to aircraft and UAVs as well as global security, service and support solutions. In 2007, DS – with around 22,000 employees – achieved revenues of € 5.5 billion. EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2007, EADS generated revenues of € 39.1 billion and employs a workforce of about 116,000.

The DCNS group is one of Europe’s leading players on the world market for naval defence systems. To meet customer demands for more comprehensive and integrated systems, DCNS acts as prime contractor for naval shipbuilding, integration and support by combining its own development, marketing and production capabilities with those of selected partners. To manage the complexity of such projects, DCNS draws on in-house expertise in naval architecture, systems engineering, ship assembly and integration and equipment design and production, as well as through-life support. The DCNS group employs some 13,000 people, including around 3,000 engineers, and has annual revenues in the order of €2.8 billion.

Rohde & Schwarz is an independent group of companies specializing in electronics. It is a leading supplier of solutions in the fields of test and measurement, broadcasting, radiomonitoring and radiolocation as well as secure communications. Established 75 years ago, Rohde & Schwarz has a global presence and a dedicated service network in over 70 countries. It has approx. 7500 employees and achieved a net revenue of € 1.4 billion in fiscal year 2007/2008 (July 2007 to June 2008). Company headquarters are in Munich, Germany.

Source: EADS