A4ESSOR and OCCAR sign ESSOR New Capabilities (ENC) contracts, embark on new telecommunications projects focusing on Armed Forces interoperability

a4ESSOR SAS (ESSOR Alliance), a multinational joint venture that develops secure European software-defined radio (SDR) technology, has signed a public procurement contract with the European intergovernmental Organization for joint cooperation in the field of armaments (OCCAR) for the implementation of the ESSOR New Capabilities (ENC) project. This initiative received funding from the European Defense Industry Development Program (EDIDP) under a grant agreement № 044.

The ENC aims to develop three new waveforms – ESSOR NBWF, ESSOR 3DWF and ESSOR SATCOM WF – which will increase the interoperability of the European Armed Forces. In addition, under the project, the alliance will improve the ESSOR framework to manage waveforms throughout their life cycle and ensure their interoperability when transmitted to national radio terminals.

Lino Lagana, President and General Manager of a4ESSOR, stressed that the new treaty is one of the key factors for a common European defense. He said it was a privilege and a great responsibility to manage these new projects, funded by the European Commission and six ESSOR countries, Italy, France, Spain, Poland, Germany and Finland, following the successful work achieved on the first ESSOR Wide Band WaveForm and ESSOR.

The new project is part of the ESSOR program, which aims to improve the interoperability and security of tactical ground (ESSOR WBWF and ESSOR NBWF), air-to-ground (ESSOR 3DWF) and satellite communications (ESSOR SATCOM WF). By ensuring compliance with ESSOR and software communication architecture-based software (SCA) -based radio platforms and applying a very rigorous methodology to qualify interoperability between all radios that accept these waveforms, the program ensures effective interoperability of field forces.

The procurement contract follows the EDIDP ESSOR Grant Agreement, which OCCAR, on behalf of the European Commission, and the partners signed last July. It will include the participation of new companies from countries outside ESSOR, namely Telespazio Belgium, a subsidiary of Telespazio (a joint venture between Leonardo, 67%, and Thales, 33%) and Edisoft (Portugal).

EDIDP, the preparatory phase of the European Defense Fund (EDF), is an European Union industrial program funded by the European Commission to support the competitiveness and innovative capacity of the European defense industry.

About ESSOR (radio with defined European security software)
The aim of the ESSOR program is to develop pan-European software-defined radio (SDR) technology to improve the ability of the armed forces to cooperate in coalition operations. The program was launched in 2009 under the auspices of the European Defense Agency (EDA) and is currently sponsored by the governments of Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain. In addition to the ESSOR WBWF (ESSOR Wide Band Waveform), the program has created and validated the definition of a European SDR architecture, which has been transferred and qualified on six different European platforms. The benefits of waveform interoperability are regularly demonstrated through network tests involving different national platforms.

About a4ESSOR SAS
a4ESSOR SAS is a joint venture organized and existing under French law, set up by six leading EU companies: Bittium Wireless Ltd, Indra, Leonardo Spa, Radmor SA, Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG and Thales Communications & Security SAS) in order to coordinate the activities of the partners, manage the ESSOR contracts and promote the ESSOR products.
President and General Manager – Lino Laganà – [email protected]

About Bittium – defense and security
Bittium is a reliable Finnish company with over 35 years of experience in modern radio communication technologies. For the defense and security market, Bittium provides the most modern products and solutions for tactical and secure communications. Tactical communications products and solutions provide broadband data and voice to all troops on the battlefield. For secure communications, Bittium offers proven mobile devices and cyber security solutions certified to the level of CONFIDENTIAL. Net sales in 2020 are 78.4 million euros and operating profit is 2.1 million euros. Bittium is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Exchange. www.bittium.comPress contact: Carolina Malmi – +358 40 344 3507 – [email protected]

About Indra
Indra is one of the world’s leading technology and consulting companies and technology partner for the core business operations of its customers worldwide. It is a world leader in providing patented solutions in specific segments of the transport and defense markets and a leading company in consulting and information technology for digital transformation in Spain and Latin America through the subsidiary Minsait. Its business model is based on a wide range of its own products, with a focus on high value and a high innovation component. In fiscal 2020, Indra had revenues of 3.043 billion euros, nearly 48,000 employees, a local presence in 46 countries and business operations in more than 140 countries. www.indracompany.com. Press office: + (34) 91 480 71 12 – [email protected]

About Leonardo
Leonardo, a global high-tech company, is among the top ten global players in aerospace, defense and security and the main industrial company in Italy. Organized in five business units, Leonardo has a significant industrial presence in Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland and the United States, where it also works through subsidiaries such as Leonardo DRS (defense electronics) and joint ventures and partnerships: ATR, MBDA, Telespazio, Thales Alenia Space and Avio. Leonardo competes in the most important international markets, using its areas of technological and product leadership (helicopters, airplanes, air structures, electronics, cybersecurity and space). Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (LDO), in 2020 Leonardo recorded consolidated revenues of 13.4 billion euros and invested 1.6 billion euros in research and development. The group has been part of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) since 2010 and has been named the global leader in the field of sustainability in the aerospace and defense sector for the second consecutive year of DJSI in 2020. www.leonardocompany.comPress contact: Flavia Negreti – +39 334 6378422 – [email protected]

About Radmore
RADMOR SA is part of the WB Group, Poland’s largest private equity group involved in the defense industry. RADMOR is a designer, manufacturer and supplier of modern radio communication solutions for the army and civilian services. The company carries out defense and security activities of the Polish state, produces military radio stations and distributes civilian radio stations. RADMOR engineers focus on the research and development of modern radio communication systems, as well as devices (hand, hand and car radios operating in HF / VHF / UHF and 2.4 GHz bands), waveforms (narrowband / broadband) and specialized software (eg SCA, SCIP, NINE). All these activities are supported by our own accredited laboratory (environmental exposure, EMC compatibility) and production line. RADMOR, together with WB Group members, provides complete military systems to many armies around the world. www.radmor.com.pl/engPress contact: Tomasz Gil – +48 58 76 55 610 / +48 603 993 390 – [email protected]

Regarding Rohde & Schwarz
Rohde & Schwarz is a leading provider of solutions in the areas of testing and measurement, broadcasting and media, space, defense, security and networking, and cybersecurity. The technology group’s innovative communication, information and security products help industry and government customers ensure a safer and more connected world. As of June 30, 2020, Rohde & Schwarz had approximately 12,300 employees worldwide. The independent group achieved net revenues of 2.58 billion euros in fiscal 2019/2020 (July to June). The company is headquartered in Munich, Germany, and has subsidiaries in more than 70 countries, with regional centers in Asia and America. Rohde & Schwarz is the main supplier of the joint radio system of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) (SVFuA, serial name: SOVERON D). www.rohde-schwarz.com Press contact: Denis-P. Merklinghaus – +49 89 4129 15671 – [email protected]

About Thales
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a world leader in modern technology, investing in digital and “deep technological” innovations – connectivity, big data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum computing – to build a secure future that is crucial for development of our societies. The group provides its customers – companies, organizations and governments – in the fields of defense, aeronautics, space, transport and digital identity and security with solutions, services and products that help them fulfill their critical role, with attention to the individual being the driving force. behind all decisions.
Thales has 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2020, the Group generated sales of 17 billion euros. Press contact: Camille Heck – +33 (0) 6 73 78 33 63 – [email protected]

About Edisoft
EDISOFT is a joint venture between Thales, NAV Portugal and idD Portugal Defense, which promotes and delivers innovative solutions that improve the security of its customers’ critical systems, on land, sea, air, space and cyberspace, through a high-tech technical team. With its headquarters in Lisbon and the management of a spatial ground station on the island of Santa Maria, Azores, EDISOFT focuses on providing Portuguese organizations with responsibilities in the field of aeronautics, space, security and defense with constant access to state-of-the-art solutions, as in times of conflict, as well as in peacetime. From the integration of Naval & ISR world-class systems, to the delivery of maritime security and highly critical space services, EDISOFT delivers state-of-the-art ATM, C2 and real-time space software to some of the world’s most demanding customers. www.edisoft.pt

About Telespazio Belgium
Telespazio Belgium, a subsidiary of Telespazio (a joint venture between Leonardo, 67% and Thales, 33%), is a service company located in Transinne, Galaxia Park, which operates in the areas related to the engineering and operation of space systems. Telespazio Belgium provides cutting-edge services and applications, engineering services and support in the field of space programs and high-tech projects. As part of one of the world’s leading operators in the field of satellite solutions and services, Telespazio Belgium is at the forefront of providing modern and innovative satellite services in navigation, Earth observation and space operations. www.telespazio.com

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