C4i expands national air defence system in Thailand

C4i will deliver another installation of its SwitchplusIP end-to-end IP communication system to the Thai Air Force with delivery expected early this year. C4i delivered the existing air defence system in 2008 which has provided the Thai Air Force with a complete nationwide end-to-end IP solution. The system consists of over 20 operational sites scattered across the country, linked together via an advanced IP network allowing every site to work together appearing like a single, very large system, providing flexibility for resource allocation across the country while still retaining complete stand-alone autonomy should the network be removed.

“The SwitchplusIP system delivered to the Thai Air Force is the largest end-to-end IP-based communications system we are aware of in use by any air force in the world today,” said Peter Harrison, C4i's managing director. “It provides the operators with transparent access to communication assets located all across the country as if they were all in the same room. This cutting-edge technology delivers the often talked about goal of ‘any asset, any operator, anywhere’ currently being sort after by many air forces across the globe,” Harrison said.

The air force is able to incrementally grow the system by adding sites, operators or assets when required; in this case, a mobile air traffic control system can be networked allowing command centre operators to use and communicate with these remote assets and operators through the IP network.