EM Solutions ships final terminal for ANZAC frigates

Brisbane-based EM Solutions has completed the shipment of its final Cobra terminal for the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac Class Frigates.

EM Solutions, a subsidiary of defence, communications and space manufacturer Electro Optic Systems, recently shipped its eighth multi-band satellite communications system (pictured below) for the frigates.

Witnessing the over-the-air test of the Cobra terminal for the Navy’s Anzac frigates was Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, AO and Dr Rowan Gilmore, CEO, EM Solutions (main picture).

Cobra provides beyond line-of-sight communications and simultaneous operation in X-and military Ka-band, with the option to automatically switch to commercial Ka-band in the event of congestion.

Dr Gilmore said: “The shipment of the eighth Cobra X/Ka-band terminal to the Australian Navy for each of its Anzac frigates marks an important milestone for EM Solutions.

“Since its commercialisation through a Defence innovation grant in 2015, the Cobra has proven itself as an exemplar of a system that results from close collaboration between Navy end users, engineers, and industry.

“The support of the Navy throughout has been outstanding.”

The Cobra is now used by the RAN on its Cape Class, Supply, Anzac, and future Arafura-class ships, as well as by five other navies around the world.

On the Anzac frigates, the Cobra will provide quality of life services to the crew and additional services to its existing legacy communications systems.

Vice Admiral Noonan also inspected EM Solutions’ expanded factory facility.

The factory will produce two much larger maritime communications terminals whose development is being sponsored by the RAN through the Defence Innovation Hub.

Main picture: (Pictured L-R) Program Director, EM Solutions, John Logan, Chief of Navy , CEO, EM Solutions, Rowan Gilmore, and Director of Operations, EM Solutions, Georgios Makris with the Cobra terminals

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