Microwave Journal
www.microwavejournal.com/articles/18878-rohde-schwarz-launches-next-generation-software-defined-tactical-radio

Rohde & Schwarz launches next-generation software defined tactical radio

December 21, 2012

Rohde & Schwarz has introduced the R&S®SDTR, the first in a new generation of software defined radios, together with a family of network capable waveforms. This tactical radio for vehicular and semi-mobile platforms delivers 50 W of output power without external amplifiers and covers the 30 MHz to 512 MHz range. It meets the military's special requirements on shock resistance, size, weight and ventilation without the need for extra mechanical shock absorbers.

Thanks to integrated high-performance filters, antennas can be spaced as close as one meter apart and the radio lines will not interfere with each other. The R&S®SDTR tactical radio, with the R&S®HDR waveforms, is fully IP capable and can be easily and seamlessly integrated into existing IP networks.

The R&S®SDTR is an open platform based on the software communications architecture (SCA) standard. SCA based waveforms and other manufacturers' waveforms can be ported to the radio, paving the way for interoperability with allied armed forces. It has the capability to handle future international standardized waveforms with data rates of up to several Mbit/s.

Herbert Rewitzer, Head of the Radiocommunications Systems Division at Rohde & Schwarz, said: "We developed the R&S®SDTR as an open, flexible platform so that our customers can adapt their communications systems to their tasks and not the other way around – a key factor in the success of missions."

Rohde & Schwarz has developed a family of network capable, high data rate waveforms to handle diverse mission requirements. The R&S®HDR waveforms transmit data and up to two voice channels in parallel, at high speed and with different priorities. Users can select the waveform that best matches their requirements on range, data rate and jamming immunity.

The waveform family enables mobile, IP based tactical radiocommunications, the prerequisite for future networked operations. In vehicle based missions, the contactability of network nodes and the availability of bandwidths can change rapidly. The R&S®HDR waveforms offer MANET capability, supporting the automatic reconfiguring of radio networks.