The consortium “KOFA – GIADS” (Cassidian and Frequentis Nachrichtentechnik GmbH) has delivered an ultramodern control and reporting centre (CRC) to the German Air Force, represented by the Federal Office for Information Management and Information Technology of the Bundeswehr (IT-AmtBw), in Erndtebrück.

Cassidian is supplying the “battlefield command and control system” component, and Frequentis the new IP-based voice and data communication system KOFA-IP. With this delivery, all German command posts of this Mission Command are now equipped with KOFA/GIADS-based technology. 

This upgrade from GIADS II to GIADS III technology essentially increases the number of workstations per CRC by one third, doubles the number of radar interfaces previously supported and partially automates and extensively enhances the entire reporting system. New interfaces to the Bundeswehr's command and control information systems were realised (NCO capability). GIADS was expanded to include a map management subsystem and a planning component.

The analogue KOFA communication system previously used has been upgraded to state-of-the-art IP technology (KOFA-IP) for secure voice operation.

The GIADS air defence system from Cassidian has been operational since 2000, with the task of military surveillance for the airspace over Germany and contiguous areas. The system processes the information about flying objects that is delivered by radar systems and presents it on the GIADS workstations. The military air situation displayed there is automatically supplemented with civil ATC data (e.g. air situation from Eurocontrol, flight schedules). Any objects detected are automatically identified using the latest technology, which provides a continuously updated air situation picture. Here, the Sentry™ system from the subcontractor ThalesRaytheonSystems LLC performs valuable services. The air situation data is exchanged with neighbouring CRCs within the framework of the NATO Integrated Air Defence System, NATINADS. The air situation picture, along with information relevant to the assignment, is put at the disposal of other activities and CRCs.

Through KOFA-IP, Frequentis is expanding the GIADS CRC electronics to provide workstations optimised for IP-based voice and data communication, including a fully integrated voice recording and playback system. The same IP infrastructure is additionally used to integrate a wide variety of IT services. The advantages of this IP-based system lie in the interoperability and flexibility in the networking of all voice and data interfaces, as well as the added value generated through the seamless interaction of all systems. This is the prerequisite for seamless communication between the voice and data media. By placing its faith in the latest technology offered by this trailblazing system, the Bundeswehr is set to become the world leader in this field.

Thus, the KOFA/GIADS system is performing valuable service in securing Germany's – and Europe’s – airspace.