The Information Technology (IT) equipment for the Air Component Command Headquarters/Air Operations Center (GefStd ACCHQ/AOC) supplied to the German Armed Forces by EADS Defence & Security (DS) successfully passed acceptance by the Federal Office for Information Management and Information Technology of the Bundeswehr. The IT equipment of the command centre is based on IT and communications components that are integrated into deployable shipping and storage containers (BTuLBs) equipped with an uninterruptible power supply and one air conditioning container per BTuLB tower. Up to 25 BTuLB towers are modularly structured in a three-level communications hierarchy. The system concept allows the user a wide variety of operations, taking the special operational requirements of a deployable ACCHQ/AOC command centre into account. In addition to the servers, the IT equipment also comprises the necessary workstation PCs, printers, electronic projectors and video conference systems. For the purposes of monitoring and configuring the system supplied, the user has a management system at his disposal that can be operated either autonomously or from a control centre in the home country.

The data and voice communication elements were produced on the basis of products from the Cisco company. Together with the partner company Brugg Kabel GmbH, a concept was developed that enables the entire infrastructure to be operated in a restricted space.

The system passed the extensive operational testing with participation by German Air Force Command, Weapon System Command of the German Air Force and Air Force Systems Operations Command with flying colours in October 2007.

Subsequently, the IT equipment passed further test during the two-week exercise Kalkar Sky 2007 late last year. 200 military staff from the German Air Force divisions and NATO member states were involved in this exercise. The IT equipment for the ACCHQ/AOC command centre fully met the user’s high expectations with regard to robustness, flexibility and easy deployability. According to operations command, the IT equipment that has been delivered sets new reliability and stability standards for deployable systems within the Bundeswehr.

The IT equipment for the ACCHQ/AOC command centre was developed in nine months. On 18.01.2007, the system extension was completed and the overall contract was concluded. Thanks to the close cooperation between the German Air Force Systems Operations Command, German Air Force Command and Weapon System Command as well as the project management at the Federal Office for Information Management and Information Technology and DS, it was possible to implement the project with success and to the satisfaction of the user.

Defence and Communications Systems is an integrated Business Unit of EADS Defence & Security (DS). DS is a systems solutions provider combining military air systems, missile systems, communications and intelligence systems, global security solutions, sensor and avionics systems, as well as test and support solutions into a single effective network. In 2006, DS – with its around 23,000 employees – achieved revenues of € 5.9 billion. EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2006, EADS generated revenues of € 39.4 billion and employs a workforce of about 116,000.

Source: European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS)
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