Leading Australian technology company, Mawson Lakes-based Codan, has unveiled its solution to deliver the next generation of radio communication systems for Australian soldiers.

The company’s proposal for the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) LAND 4140 Work Package 16 Tactical Edge Radio program is centred on Codan’s Sentry 6161 radio, which is designed and manufactured in South Australia and is already in service with the Australian Army.

The program aims to deliver a common radio system that enables voice, data, sensor and unmanned system connectivity at the “tactical edge” of the battlefield, including in contested environments where communications may be disrupted.

Codan plans to integrate the Kägwerks DOCK ecosystem – the first modular and scalable tactical communications system built for the individual warfighter – with the Sentry 6161 radio to deliver the next generation tactical communications equipment.

Codan Managing Director and CEO Alf Ianniello said Codan’s proposal combines proven capability with Australian production, while giving Defence options to adapt it as requirements change.

“Our advanced communications technologies have been proven in some of the harshest conditions on Earth,” Mr Ianniello said.

“LAND 4140 is an opportunity to support sovereign communications capability and strengthen Australia’s advanced manufacturing base.

“Codan’s solution is built around the Sentry 6161, which is already in service with the Australian Army, and supported by an Australian supply chain to deliver the capability.”

A key part of Codan’s proposal is the ability to use different waveforms for different missions, including TSM, Katana narrowband and MeshUltra waveforms, created by DTC, a Codan Company (DTC).

DTC, the communications arm of Codan, has also launched multiple updates to its MeshUltraTM Spectrum Overmatch capabilities which are designed to give soldiers an information advantage in emerging battlefield electronic warfare environments.

DTC’s Vice President, C-UAS, Matthew Jones said the update adds two beamforming capabilities to the MeshUltra waveforms, which create self-forming, self-healing networks that adapt as radios move and network conditions change. This allows the radio to shape its transmission in ways a radio with a single antenna and transmit path cannot.

“No single waveform will suit every mission,” Mr Jones said. “Giving Defence a choice of waveforms means it can select what it needs now and add new options as requirements change.”

Codan’s proposed solution also offers a pathway to add technology from other providers over time, providing Defence greater flexibility over future upgrades and reducing reliance on a single waveform supplier.

The technology is designed to support resilient links across diverse platforms and missions, enabling the timely exchange of command, sensor data, video and situational information to deliver greater operational awareness in contested environments.

First established in a small Adelaide workshop in 1959, Codan has grown rapidly in the past four years, increasing its global workforce from 250 to 1,100 employees and exporting to more than 150 countries.