Rheinmetall has been awarded the contract for another major project of the Bundeswehr in the field of digitalization. As general contractor, Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH will be responsible for setting up an end-to-end communications network, the so-called “Tactical Wide Area Network for Land Based Operations” (TaWAN LBO).
The volume of the framework contract that has now been awarded for a platform-based communication and radio relay management system that can be deployed amounts to several billion euros.
The procurement framework agreement for TaWAN LBO has a term of ten years and was signed by representatives of the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) and Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH.
At the same time, an initial order worth 1.88 billion euros gross was placed under the framework agreement, which will be used to equip a division of the German Armed Forces. The delivery of this communications network will extend from the end of 2026 to the end of 2029.
Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG: “We are grateful for the great trust that the Bundeswehr has placed in us in connection with its ambitious digitization efforts. By winning the TaWAN LBO and D-LBO (-> Rheinmetall and Blackned win major contract) from a single source, the prerequisite for a coordinated introduction of both systems is now in place. Our aim is to build a seamless and reliable communications network for the Bundeswehr within the given timeframe, which can be considered the flagship of digitization in Germany.”
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The core function of TaWAN LBO is to provide an open transport network for Federated Mission Networking (FMN) based on Protected Core Network (PCN) to connect the upstream tactical D-LBO networks to the rear core network CIR. Following the contracts awarded at the end of 2024 in the Bundeswehr’s Digitalized Land-Based Operations (D-LBO) programme, TaWAN LBO “represents a further milestone in the end-to-end command and control capability of the armed forces”, according to a recent Rheinmetall press release. In conjunction with D-LBO, the TaWAN LBO network will ensure connectivity deep into the rear area with high data rates.
As part of TaWAN LBO, protected 8×8 HX trucks from Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles which serve as carrier vehicles for the large radio relay systems and are equipped with high mobile extendable antenna masts.
One vehicle carries the mast system, another the 20-foot functional container with workstations, servers and other equipment. Rheinmetall MAN is supplying a total of 102 vehicles.
Other vehicle platforms are used in conjunction with smaller mobile extendable antenna masts (small radio relay system). Part of the overall solution is a software-based radio relay management system that ensures the functionality of the radio relay system and can be used to plan and carry out operations.
Here for further reports about Rheinmetall and here to further reports on the Bundeswehr.
