Bittium started deliveries of Tactical Bittium Tough SDR handheld radios to Finnish army

Volume shipments for Bittium Tough SDR handheld radios have begun. The product deliveries are based on a purchase agreement signed in December 2018 under which Bittium will supply the Finnish Defense Forces with Tough SDR handheld and vehicle radios and their accessories. The value of the purchase contract is approximately EUR 10.5 million. Volume shipments for Bittium Tough SDR car radios are expected to begin in the second half of 2020.

Bittium Tough SDR Handheld Radio (Image Source: Bittium)

Modern Bittium Tough SDR software-defined radios enable broadband data transfer and the radios support the reformed combat doctrine of the Finnish Defense Forces. In the first phase, Tough SDR radios will be used by the military and the radios will gradually replace analog field radios. Some of the performance of software defined radios will be created by the waveform software used in the radio. In this way, the performance of the radios can be developed throughout their life cycle with software development. Bittium Tough SDR radios are compatible with the Bittium Tactical Wireless IP Network (TAC WIN) software-defined system already in use by the Finnish Defense Forces.

Under the purchase agreement, the Finnish Defense Forces have an option to purchase additional tactical radios and their accessories, training and system management for use by the ground forces, air force and navy. If the optional additional purchase amounts materialize in full, the total value will be a maximum of approximately €207 million. There will be separate purchase orders for the optional additional purchases.

Bittium Tough SDR family of products

The Bittium Tough SDR tactical radio product family consists of the Bittium Tough SDR Handheld™, a tactical handheld radio for individual soldiers, and the Bittium Tough SDR Vehicular™, a tactical radio for vehicle installations. Bittium Tough SDR radios help generate and share real-time situational awareness (location, image, voice, video and sensor data) at all levels of the organization. This improves the productivity and efficiency of tactical troops, and commanding troops is easier based on up-to-date situational information and more reliable communications. The radios’ uniquely wide range of frequency bands improves survivability in combat. Using multiple waveforms such as Bittium TAC WIN, Bittium Narrowband and ESSOR High Data Rate waveforms, even simultaneously, improves compatibility and enables operations at different levels and missions. Together with the SDR-based Bittium Tactical Wireless IP Network (TAC WIN) system used to form a tactical broadband mobile IP backbone network, it is possible to carry broadband data and voice to all mobile troops on the battlefield, from brigade level to individual fighter.

Bittium Tough SDR handheld and car radios (Image credit: Bittium)