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SCREEN
TEST: One of the key initiatives of Sea Change is to provide
personnel at sea with the same sort of internet access as
they get ashore.
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Volume
49, No. 10, June 15, 2006
The
improvement of information technology within RAN ships is one
of the key initiatives addressed by the Sea Change program.
Sea Change is working towards providing sailors at sea with internet
access that is as close as possible to the service that is available
ashore.
Increasingly, sailors serving at sea need to have the ability
to communicate with family and friends as they would ashore, by
removing the impediments that are experienced today.
The RAN will receive new capabilities through two new communications
upgrade projects for the RAN’s surface fleet announced by
the Defence Minister in February 2006. Government has approved
the modernisation of the Navy’s onboard communications and
information systems, along with the acquisition of further broadband
satellite communication terminals.
This is additional to those currently being fitted under the Joint
Project (JP) 2008 Phase 3E. The project (SEA 1442) seeks to provide
the RAN with a maritime communications and information system
network to meet the ADF’s requirements for maritime operations
for 2015 and beyond.
Capabilities introduced through these projects will allow deployed
ships to establish computer-based wide area networks at sea via
broadband satellite communication bearers and other communication
mediums.
This will allow the Navy to move information rapidly around its
ships, share tactical information, communicate with headquarters
and allies, and is a response to the increased tempo of modern
military operations.
It will enhance the off-shore communications capabilities of the
ADF in Australia’s region, as well as enhancing communications
interoperability with the US and other Allied forces.
SEA 1442 aims to utilise most of the ship’s available communications
systems to send and receive Internet Protocol (IP) data, thereby
removing the reliance on the INMARSAT as the sole method of delivery.
In a “nutshell”, the communication upgrade to Navy’s
major fleet units benefits the Navy both operationally and at
a people level.
SEA 1442 will deliver a mission system with high performance data
rates which will enhance the strategic and tactical electronic
information exchange between ships and the shore network.
