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| Aleksandr Sergeyevich Yakunin - General Director, United Instrument-Building Corporation |
[translation of select portions of RIA Novosti article: Aleksandr Yakunin: Within a Year and a Half, We Will Be Ready to Fully Transition to Sixth Generation Technologies]
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Many of our developments are on the cusp of the fifth and sixth generations. Within a year to year and a half, we will be ready to fully transition to sixth generation technologies. First and foremost, these will be software-defined radio (SDR) technologies, where communications quality will be achieved through software, and not by a device's internals. Software will allow communications characteristics, such as multi-mode, multi-spectrum, and security against intercept by an adversary, to be implemented at a new level.
The first prototypes of such radio stations have already been produced for the Ground Troops. If we're talking about concrete deliveries, then in 2016 the Russian Navy will receive the first advanced communications systems for upgrading existing ships. In 2018, deliveries will begin of sixth generation communications systems for advanced Navy submarines and ships currently under development. At about this time, a new sixth generation system will be ready for the Aerospace Defense Forces, specifically for the Advanced Long-Range Aviation Aircraft Complex (PAK DA). Because of the new device, an aircraft will be able to operate in concealed modes and remain undetected by enemy radars.
Due to a high level of automation and "smart" software, such technology makes operator errors unlikely. It is more powerful, works farther, and provides faster, protected communications. It has unlimited options for upgrading without altering the design - through software improvements alone.
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The United Instrument-Building Corporation has developed a concept for configuration of a Common Information Space in the Arctic. This is a set of measures for developing a communications infrastructure and various types of monitoring. Using them, Russia will be able to monitor the movements of seaborne, airborne, and space targets in real time, and to track foreign nation activities in the air, on the sea and under the sea, from a near-earth orbit. It is an intelligent system, which will be able to provide necessary recommendations and automatically control various monitoring resources. If needed, it will be capable of targeting and passing guidance data to various weapons systems.
[Are these just plans, or are there already real projects?]
Concrete steps are already being made. Specifically, we have already produced the necessary framework for a radio-electronic surveillance and signals intelligence system in the Arctic. Monitoring resources on various platforms can be used for these purposes - ships, submarines, UAVs, aerostats, aircraft, and satellites. We will be able to reliably determine the types of transiting ships (military or commercial), the weapons on board these ships, radio-electronic tracking devices, etc.
Additionally, a large project is being implemented for the Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command. Under this project, in 2016 the Rodnik satellite communications system will begin to be combined with shore-based communications resources to control aircraft, ships and submarines in the Arctic zone. We also are preparing a design for a Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command automated communications control system for Russia's Arctic grouping of troops. Under this design, all governmental and corporate communications and control systems in the Arctic region will be combined into a Common Information Space.
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In 2016, we will be begin creating a cluster in St. Petersburg, which will comprise eight companies. It will primarily specialize in manufacturing devices for the Navy, shore-based communications stations (including communications with deep-water equipment), radio-electronic intelligence and monitoring systems, automated communications control systems, and telecommunications technologies. More than RUB 3.5 billion has been invested in its development. As a result, the range of products being manufactured will increase 150%, and the quantity of items being produced will increase 200%.
