Air

• As a supplier to Lockheed on the Air6500 Project, C4i will provide its VOICE C2 solution ensuring secure communications across air, land, sea, and space
• Project for Royal Australian Airforce (RAAF) aims to enhance security, rapid response, and interoperability of the country’s defence systems
• System will bridge classified and non-classified networks to connect systems, strengthen decision-making, and counter modern threats

AIR6500 is the RAAFs multibillion-dollar plan for an integrated communication network promoting seamless operability and connectivity across sensors, weapons, jets, and warships to protect against threats. Lockheed Martin was selected to lead the project in late August 2023, contracting 10 leading-edge Australian companies to support this mission.

As a supplier to Lockheed, Australian defence company, C4i, a member of the Frequentis Group, will provide its secure VOICE C2 technology. This secure communication system acts as a bridge, linking operators, radios, and telephony across the RAAF's operations. This integration will enhance the RAAF's ability to respond effectively in high-pressure situations.

Melbourne-based critical communications SME, C4i, has been awarded a nationwide voice communication control system (VCCS) contract. Following a successful initial system delivery on behalf of C4i, this contract will expand on what is already one of the largest systems in Asia Pacific.

C4i’s secure VCCS, the VOICE C2 system, offers unparalleled operational flexibility, allowing operators to control any radio – from anywhere – at any time; with the intuitive graphical user interface providing operational access to both local and remote systems, for quicker response times. 

With several hundred controller working positions, working end-to-end, the C4i VCCS will represent one of the largest Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems in Asia Pacific and the world.

Lockheed Martin Australia has joined forces with C4i, Australian secure communications systems expert, signing a contract as part of a proposal to deliver advanced secure communication capabilities to support the Royal Australian Air Force’s AIR6500 Phase 1 Project (AIR6500-1).

The contract will see the two companies work together to design, test, integrate and authenticate secure voice communication technologies as part of the risk reduction phase in transitioning to Lockheed Martin Australia’s proposal for AIR6500-1 acquisition.

The secure communications systems technologies will focus on homegrown secure voice communication systems that connect into next generation Joint Air Battlement Management C2 networks, while increasing system security, rapid response and interoperability in support of the RAAF’s Integrated Air and Defence Missile (IAMD) mission.

Australian based company, C4i, welcomed Mr. Josh Burns, Federal MP for Macnamara to its facilities  to showcase first hand C4i’s high-end C4i defence secure communication technology. The products  are all designed, developed and built in Melbourne in the centre of his Federal Electorate.

In 2021 C4i received AU$33.6M of export orders, directly contributing to the local economy, securing over 95 high-end engineering jobs in the defence industry and its associated supply chain in the Melbourne/Victoria area. The Frequentis Group intends to create additional job growth in Melbourne by transferring software and hardware Intellectual Property from Europe to Australia, further developing C4i as a global export hub for Air Defence communication technology.

Melbourne-based secure communications company achieves historical export orders 

In 2021 C4i Pty Ltd, a Melbourne-based secure communications system expert, achieved the largest value of export orders in its history, increasing by over 37 per cent in 2021.

C4i delivers high-tech Secure Communication System technology to prime contractors and international end user customers including: the US Air Force and Marine Corps, UK Ministry of Defence, Canadian Department of National Defence, Taiwan Airforce, and the Qatar Ministry of Defense. In the Australian Defence market the C4i secure Voice Communication System (VCS) is being rolled out in the Air Defence segment of the Royal Australian Air Force.  

• Completion of the acquisition of C4i Pty. Ltd., formalised on 30 July 2021, completes the L3Harris transaction of 23 February 2021
• C4i will strengthen Frequentis worldwide Defence business and portfolio with its highly secure interoperable communications solutions for mission-critical environments
• C4i will operate as an independent brand in the high-end Defence trusted supplier market with specific focus on US, Australia, UK, and allied markets

“We are delighted that with the closing for C4i we completed the transaction with L3Harris in such a short time. As a new entity of the Frequentis Group, C4i will significantly reinforce Frequentis capabilities in the very important Australian and US markets for multi-domain cyber secure Defence communications,” says Frequentis’ CEO Norbert Haslacher. “We will combine the strength of Frequentis and C4i mission-critical communication platforms to provide market leading technology and solutions based on extensive security, compliance, and export handling processes. Frequentis is market leader in communication systems for military Air Traffic Management. Together with C4i, we will now secure a globally dominating position also in the Defence Command & Control market."

To read the news in full, please click download.

The business received the prestigious Victorian Export Award for Innovation Excellence during the 2017 Governor of Victoria Export Awards (GOVEA) held in Melbourne.

C4i is a global leader in IP and data distribution service based secure voice communications for mission-critical environments. It is used in more than 35 countries by a wide range of industries - including aviation, defence, public safety, utilities and transport. 

"The certification comes as a result of extensive testing conducted at JITC's Global Information Test Facility to confirm that the system meets all information assurance and interoperability requirements," said Ed Sayadian, president, Harris Mission Networks.

"SwitchplusIP has already been deployed at many U.S. Department of Defense sites. This certification demonstrates Harris' continued commitment to information security."

Executives will be available to discuss the launch of the new Exelis Global Aviation Solutions business and its portfolio of integrated solutions that enable improved communication, collaboration and optimization for airports, air navigation service providers (ANSP) and airlines.