Moledet
05-17-2004, 04:02 PM
By Hadar Horesh
The Israel Defense Forces has successfully tested an independent cellular network, which is now scheduled to become operational on July 1, Brigadier General Arnon Zo-Eretz told Haaretz. Some $100 million was invested in this project.
The unique military network, dubbed Mountain Rose (Vered Harim), was developed by Motorola Israel, with components manufactured at the company's facility in Arad. Motorola developed the system according to specifications defined by the IDF, but is now also marketing cellular networks to foreign armies.
Motorola will supply several thousand cellular devices to the IDF. They will be used by officers, starting at the level of company commander. The system employs encryption technology developed by the IDF to maintain secure communication and has no links to civilian networks.
The cellular devices will be used for secure telephone communication and will also offer "push and talk" capabilities and a GPS satellite location system.
The Mountain Rose network incorporates several hundred base systems, as well as mobile stations that provide coverage for areas of temporary deployment.
Contrary to previous assessments, the army has decided that the new cellular devices will not - at least for now - replace the traditional communication systems in use by combat units and lugged in backpacks. The new devices will, however, replace the radio telephone networks used for secure telephone communication with division headquarters.
The new cellular system also provides data communication, with end users equipped to receive data on rugged palm computers supplied by Tadiran Communications. The computers will be allocated to commanders of combat units and will enable the transfer or text and pictures during military operations.
IMO, that's a great idea but too bad that it doesn't replace the huge radio device that some soldiers carry. Even though I have heard of cases where soldiers were saved by that thing and it still kept working (got hit by three 7.62mm and it still worked) it's just too clumsy, big and heavy.
The Israel Defense Forces has successfully tested an independent cellular network, which is now scheduled to become operational on July 1, Brigadier General Arnon Zo-Eretz told Haaretz. Some $100 million was invested in this project.
The unique military network, dubbed Mountain Rose (Vered Harim), was developed by Motorola Israel, with components manufactured at the company's facility in Arad. Motorola developed the system according to specifications defined by the IDF, but is now also marketing cellular networks to foreign armies.
Motorola will supply several thousand cellular devices to the IDF. They will be used by officers, starting at the level of company commander. The system employs encryption technology developed by the IDF to maintain secure communication and has no links to civilian networks.
The cellular devices will be used for secure telephone communication and will also offer "push and talk" capabilities and a GPS satellite location system.
The Mountain Rose network incorporates several hundred base systems, as well as mobile stations that provide coverage for areas of temporary deployment.
Contrary to previous assessments, the army has decided that the new cellular devices will not - at least for now - replace the traditional communication systems in use by combat units and lugged in backpacks. The new devices will, however, replace the radio telephone networks used for secure telephone communication with division headquarters.
The new cellular system also provides data communication, with end users equipped to receive data on rugged palm computers supplied by Tadiran Communications. The computers will be allocated to commanders of combat units and will enable the transfer or text and pictures during military operations.
IMO, that's a great idea but too bad that it doesn't replace the huge radio device that some soldiers carry. Even though I have heard of cases where soldiers were saved by that thing and it still kept working (got hit by three 7.62mm and it still worked) it's just too clumsy, big and heavy.