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NATO's rapid deployment forces, with their multinational structures, are particularly dependent on interoperable communication. The troop contingents are equipped with communication devices of various technologies - from analog field telephones to analog radios to the most modern digital software-defined, IP-based radios - for the transmission of data and voice.

In order to enable interoperable communication, NATO forces are equipped with RUAG's Multinational Interoperable Radio Interface Point (MIFAP). The German-led NATO Battlegroup, which is stationed in Lithuania as the Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP), received the first predecessors of MIFAP in 2020. Two thirds of the 55 planned devices have been delivered to date. The successful application has attracted numerous interested parties who want to equip multinational forces with the MIFAP.

The overall MIFAP system consists of the “Tactical Access Node” (TAN) gateway unit, device units for radio devices, antennas, cable sets for connecting the elements and an operating terminal.

Das Kernelement TAN stellt hersteller- und technologieübergreifend die Verbindung von bis zu sechs Übertragungssystemen her. Nach RUAG-Angaben wird der MIFAP z.B. in Gefechtsständen betrieben, um als universeller Sprach- und IP-Router Übermittlungsnetze- und -geräte verschiedener Hersteller und Beschaffungsgenerationen, sowie analoge und digitale Technologien mit einer so genannten Bridgefunktion interoperabel miteinander zu verbinden. Dadurch wird die Führungsfähigkeit im Einsatz sichergestellt. Der TAN-T230A bietet Schnittstellen für sechs analoge Funkgeräte, zehn digitale Geräte/Netzwerke (IP-Daten. Voice over IP [VoIP]) sowie ein lokales Netzwerk. Eine Stromversorgungseinheit (TPS T230) stellt elektrische Energie aus unterschiedlichen Quellen im NATO-Standard 24V bereit.

In addition to the power supply for the radio devices, the MIFAP system offers a universal carrier plate for the installation of various radio devices in the radio networks to be connected without making any changes to the respective base plate. A key advantage is that when using MIFAP for voice and data connections, nothing needs to be changed in the networks to be connected.

The system is configured using a tablet computer. The connections can be adapted to the respective conditions using the operating terminal.

Editorial staff / gwh