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Fonet MK2 Vehicle Integration System and Silent Network Combat Communication Network by WB Group Presented at AUSA 2022

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Photo credits: WB Group
Photo credits: WB Group

The WB Group presented the Fonet MK2 digital vehicle communication platform and the Silent Network low-emission military communication system at AUSA exhibition in Washington D.C., which lasted from 10 to 13 October 2022

Specialized in defense electronics and strike systems, the WB Group of Poland presented at AUSA its Fonet MK2 tactical vehicle integration platform that adds a number of capabilities to the previous Fonet, as well as Silent Network military communication system designed to operate at a battalion-level. It was based on a system developed for the Polish TYTAN individual warfare system program.

Fonet MK2

Fonet MK2 is a set of modular and scalable devices and software that integrates the vehicle’s electronic equipment and enables the internal voice communication or complete data quality of service for battlefield management system deployment. It is compatible with every radio available on the market and enables communication and data exchange with other vehicles.

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Fonet MK2 Vehicle Integration System and Silent Network Combat Communication Network by WB Group Presented at AUSA 2022, Defense Express, war in Ukraine, Russian-Ukrainian war
Photo credit: WB Group

The modular concept of the system allows to choose the configuration for each vehicle. Fonet MK2 is backward compatible with all existing Fonet systems. The new modules and terminals can be used in vehicles already equipped with the WB Group’s system.

Fonet MK2 features enhanced security and configuration, faster data processing which increases the number of available functions: radio channels, security protocols, voice control or data streams from unmanned systems.

This system has been adapted to operate in multi-clause environments that connect networks with different levels of secrecy. This is particularly important in the case of command vehicles, including those with the NATO Secret clause.

Silent Network

Silent Network is a low-emission, distributed and scalable combat communication network. It complements or replaces interoperable communication based on high-emission tactical radios.

Fonet MK2 Vehicle Integration System and Silent Network Combat Communication Network by WB Group Presented at AUSA 2022, Defense Express, war in Ukraine, Russian-Ukrainian war
Photo credit: WB Group

Silent Network ensure communication and information advantage while significantly reducing the electromagnetic signature. By using unmanned aerial vehicles the range and impact of the communication system can be increased. The low power and range of the personal radio is compensated by UAV onboard routers.

The introduction of FlyEye-based Silent Network provides users with simultaneous air reconnaissance, communication node and access to combined fire. This system reduces the load carried by soldiers on the battlefield by eliminating of backpack radios.

Silent Network provides retransmissions of data packets sent by nodes located on the ground. A flying router operating at an altitude of several hundred meters increases the effective range of communication to several dozen kilometres. This allows to provide radio communication for a battalion-sized unit.

The combination of low power and variable transmission frequency (fast hopping) in a very short time (millisecond pulse) reduces the probability of unit detection. Being a low-emission network, it is difficult to be detected for the enemy’s electronic warfare. It allows to introduce radio silence mode at any time. The re-activation of the network takes only a few seconds and can be done by any personal radio in the network.

This system can use a larger number of unmanned aerial vehicles, which enables scalability. In this way, an extensive communication network covering a large area is obtained. It remains under the full control of the user and can be developed at any place and time.

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