Finnish defence technology company Bittium is expanding its tactical communications network within the Croatian Armed Forces. The next step in the modernisation programme means the system is now also being introduced for ground-based communications within the Croatian Air Force.
According to Bittium, the rollout is part of a modernisation programme for Croatia's command and communications capability that has been ongoing since 2022, in collaboration with Croatian partner IntellByte INFO and the Croatian Ministry of Defence.
Bittium's TAC WIN network and Tough SDR Vehicular radios have previously been deployed within the Croatian Army and Navy. With the latest expansion, the same IP-based network will now also support the Air Force's ground-based communications and joint operations between different branches of the armed forces.
"Expanding the tactical network to the Air Force is a clear sign of confidence in the solution's performance, scalability, and interoperability," said Tommi Kangas, Senior Vice President for Defence and Security at Bittium, in a press release from the company.
The expansion takes place within the framework of a four-year framework agreement between IntellByte INFO and the Croatian Ministry of Defence. The latest order to Bittium is reported to be worth approximately 1.9 million euros.
In addition to radio systems and network products, the delivery also includes accessories, waveform software, radio management systems, and lifecycle services. According to the company, the systems are compatible with the NATO-standardised ESSOR (European Secure Software Defined Radio) High Data Rate Waveform, enabling tactical communications between units from different nations.