The WB Group signed an agreement to supply the command and communication strategy for the fresh squadron of Croatian Armed Forces rockets. Croatia will thus become another NATO country utilizing advanced Polish solutions – the digital communication platform FONET and the TOPAZ combat management system, utilized for more than 2 decades by the Armed Forces of Poland and another allied states.
The agreement was signed on 10 September at the office of the Croatian Ministry of Defence. The paper was signed by Adam Bartosziewicz, Vice-President of the WB Group and Ivan Anušić, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Croatia. The ceremony was besides attended by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.
– We are pleased that the FONET and TOPAZ systems will become part of the capabilities of the Croatian armed forces. This is another North Atlantic Alliance country that has decided to usage the Polish command and communication strategy based on proven and interoperable solutions said Adam Bartosiewicz, Vice president of the WB Group.
The contract was signed in connection with the acquisition by Croatia of a rocket squadron based on the South Korean strategy K239 Chunmoo. The contract for their transportation was concluded the same day between the Croatian Ministry and Hanwha Aerospace, partner of the WB Group.
– Today's agreement is at the same time an extension of our existing cooperation with Hanwha Aerospace, with which we have integrated solutions for Polish artillery. Thank you Croatian side for your trust and our Korean partners for your good cooperation – summarized Adam Bartosziewicz.
Polish FONET and TOPAZ systems will supply a layer of command, fire and communication for all vehicles forming part of the fresh rocket unit of the Croatian Armed Forces: command wagons, rocket launchers and ammunition trucks.
The agreement with the Croatian Ministry of Defence goes beyond the supply of components of Polish systems. The WB Group declares its readiness to cooperate with the Croatian industry, including the construction of local capabilities for TOPAZ and FONET systems. The partner of the WB Group is to be Croatian Končar.
Local service facilities are intended to supply support to systems throughout their operation cycle, while at the same time creating the basis for further improvement of competences on the Croatian side. The cooperation model implies not only the transportation of solutions, but besides the long-term maintenance of systems and their improvement involving local industry.
The contract for Croatia confirms the advancement of Polish solutions, extends the presence of FONET and TOPAZ systems in the North Atlantic Alliance countries and confirms that the integration capabilities of WB Groups let for their usage on various platforms, with various effects and hardware configurations.
FONET is simply a digital communication platform for military vehicles intended for the integration of radio equipment, on-board equipment and command and combat management systems within a single communication architecture. It provides the crew with voice and data transmission, interior intercom communications and access to external radio networks, and allows for the exchange of information between vehicle equipment elements.
The modular and open FONET architecture allows integration with different types of radio stations, terminals and C4I/BMS systems, allowing the solution to be adapted to different wheel and track platforms and their operational requirements.
TOPAZ is developed by the WB Group with a strategy of command and control of fire integrating sensors, command and effectors within a single solution. It enables the acquisition and distribution of mark data, supports the planning and conduct of fire, automates the exchange of information between group elements and reduces the time from mark detection to the usage of appropriate means of destruction.
TOPAZ allows integration with different artillery systems, means of designation and communication, so it can be adapted to different organizational structures and operational requirements. Allows for fast and safe exchange of data in the field of combat with interoperable protocols. In the Armed Forces of Poland, it is the basic solution utilized by Rocket Army and Artillery.
