When units are operating at reach, connectivity, accuracy and speed of secure data transmission is vital. With brand new improvements to SitaWare’s mobile C4ISR products, the user experience is now greatly improved for mounted and dismounted operations.
“Version 3.7 of SitaWare Frontline and SitaWare Edge brings significant enhancements aimed at improving deployment efficiency,” explains Jesper Annexgaard, Product Manager. “We know that in the current climate networks and connectivity are crucial enablers to dynamic, flexible operations which is why we have paid particular attention to this aspect in our latest updates.”
SitaWare is the world’s leading C4ISR software and is the battle management system of choice for more than 50 nations across the globe. Earlier this year it was chosen in a competitive tender by NATO as its Future Land C2 system and, in 2023, the Australian Defence Force confirmed its intention to down-select elements of the SitaWare suite of battle management software (BMS) to support the first Tranche of LAND 200 Phase 3 project.
These elements are SitaWare Headquarters and SitaWareFrontline which will support command-and-control (C2) functions for the Australian Army across a limited number of critical fixed, static, and mobile locations for deployment at battlegroup and above.
SitaWare Headquarters is the core product that supports joint, fixed and deployable headquarters, while SitaWare Frontline delivers situational awareness for the mounted commander within a vehicle.
It is SitaWare Frontline, along with SitaWare Edge for the dismounted units, that have received significant improvements with the latest version.
The Top Five:
1. Enhanced Deployment and Networking
One of the key updates in SitaWare Edge 3.7 is the introduction of a simplified app installation process that leverages ad-hoc networking, enabling faster and more flexible deployment in the field.
This enhancement ensures that soldiers can quickly and securely deploy necessary applications with minimal setup, even in dynamic environments.
“This saves a lot of time and effort, and is a much easier way to deploy units into the field,” explains Jesper. “The ad-hoc nature of the network also ensures less of a burden on the administrator as the app can be pre-installed onto the mobile devices and then users can define their callsign prior to use.”
2. Optimised for Mounted and Dismounted Use
The new version also introduces the ability for mobile Edge devices to automatically plug into vehicles, directly connecting the soldier to the vehicle’s SitaWare Tactical Communication (STC) network. Once ported, the soldier is automatically shown as mounted and the device synchronises – exchanging the latest situational awareness data and chat messages via STC.
This feature allows seamless communication as soldiers move between mounted and dismounted operations, ensuring continuous and reliable connectivity.
3. Advanced Data Logistics and Export Capabilities
Version 3.7 improves data logistics by enabling the collection and export of critical operational data to SitaWare Insight and archiving systems. Users can now export holding reports, operational status histories, as well as Friendly Force Tracking (FFT) and Tactical Situation (TacSit) data, ensuring better post-mission analysis and archival processes.
4. Network Management and Communication Enhancements
The update includes significant advancements in network management. Operators, who have the responsibility of monitoring the status of network connections, can now do so directly on the map interface, providing real-time insights into connectivity across various networks. Users can also view the direction of communication links so that administrators can instantly spot issues with connectivity.
Additionally, the ability to clear chatrooms across networks has been introduced, improving communication efficiency.
5. Improved Chat Functionality
SitaWare Edge & SitaWare Frontline 3.7 also enhances the chat feature, allowing users to sort conversations by send or receive time, pin important chat threads, and select specific chat rooms as recipients. This feature allows recipients to see when the latest message was sent rather than miss information due to a delay in timing/connectivity.
“The pinning of important conversations and chat threads make sit much easier for users to quickly locate information, rather than searching through the hundreds of chats that might be happening,” explains Jesper. “It is a small change but really improves the user experience – everything is about speed and efficiency and this ensures exactly that.”
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