Armasuisse expands partnership with FREQUENTIS Voice Communication Systems

Frequentis supports the procurement agency of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), armasuisse, with their overall strategy for system harmonization.

After an intense tendering procedure, Frequentis was awarded the VCS Airbase project by the customer armasuisse, who aims to renew and harmonise the system landscape, using the same system (iSecCOM) for Airbases (VCS AB) and the Air Defence Direction Center (FLORAKO / VCS ADDC). This will enable further synergies to be created across the operation and overall life cycle concept.

The latest VCS Airbase project for armasuisse includes the installation of the modern Air Defence Voice Communication System, Frequentis iSecCOM, at several Airbases in Switzerland through 2021.

Frequentis delivered the first Voice Communication System for the Swiss Air Force in 1999, within the framework of the FLORAKO program, which commenced what is now an almost 20-year collaboration. In September 2016, Frequentis was awarded the contract for the step-by-step replacement of the existing Voice Communication infrastructure of the FLORAKO Air Defense Direction Center and radio sites with modern IP technology. The current VCS Airbase contract is another important milestone in the modernisation program for the Air Defence Voice Communication infrastructure of the Swiss Air Force.

This project highlights the confidence and trust built during 20 years of collaboration between armasuisse/Swiss Air Force and Frequentis. It underlines the common intention to extend this cooperation in order to master technical and operational challenges in the years to come.

The project manager VCS Airbase and VCS ADDC, armasuisse, commented: “I greatly appreciate the professional, reliable, and partner-oriented cooperation with Frequentis as they understand the requirements of armasuisse and our customers. Replacing the entire Voice Communication Infrastructure of the FLORAKO Air Defense Direction Center (until 2024) and the Airbases (until 2021) and using state-of-the-art VoIP technology poses new challenges. I am convinced that we will master them thanks to our longstanding cooperation and the broad expertise of Frequentis, providing the Swiss Air Force with a VCS which will meet the high demands!”

Meeting both security and safety requirements in one system, iSecCOM provides single and dual security domain (RED/BLACK) IP voice communications for mission-critical tactical and operational command and control systems. Adhering to military and industry standards, it gives operators everything they need for effective mission management across telephone, intercom, radio, recording, data, and conference services, all via a single operator position with customisable HMI.

Peter Skiczuk, Vice President Defence, Frequentis, underlines the importance of this project stating: “This success not only reflects our long history of technology and innovation leadership, but also the commitment to embracing cooperative partnerships with clients and our determination to deliver state-of-the-art, highly reliable systems that fulfil specific customer needs.”