Tactical HF radio system

1 Description The purpose of this request is to get information and to seek potential technical solutions from the industry for renewing the current tactical high frequency (HF) radio system used by the Finnish Defence Forces. The tactical HF radio system is used jointly by Finnish Army, Navy, Air Force and Border Guard in several different platforms and units and it should meet the technical and operational requirements defined by each branch. The use cases and operating environments vary greatly throughout the different user organizations. The primary users are within the Army special forces. The new tactical HF radio system shall support portability in field environment, secure data and voice communications, high data rate waveforms, high speed link establishment and flexible upgradability in the future. It shall be fully integrable to Finnish Defence Forces joint tactical C2 system and branch specific systems as well. The system shall be based on wideband HF (WBHF) technology. 2 General Information Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command is conducting a market consultation by this document, Request for Information (RFI). The RFI is not a contract notice or a Request for Quotation (RFQ) initiating a procurement process. This RFI should not be construed as an obligation on the part of the Finnish Defence Forces to implement any procurement, and the decision on initiating a potential procurement process is made after the market consultation. Any and all costs relating to submitting a reply to this RFI shall be totally at the respondent’s expense and risk. This entire RFI is public. Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command wishes to emphasize the following points related to the potential procurement which are significant for the respondent: - The potential procurement will be implemented as a fixed price procurement. Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command will fund the potential procurement. - The potential procurement will start at 2025 and will include approximately 600 to 1000 units of tactical HF radios with necessary auxiliary equipment, software and training. - The potential procurement will impose requirements on security of information. The subject of the potential procurement is such that requirements on security of information need to be imposed both on the procurement process and on the implementation of the procurement contract. The potential procurement includes information which is confidential according to the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621 / 1999) 24.1 § paragraph 10. Such confidential information is classified at the security level “KÄYTTÖ RAJOITETTU TL IV” (restricted) in accordance with the Government Decree on Security Classification of Documents in Central Government (1101/2019) 3 §. Questions concerning the RFI and providing contact information The recipients of the RFI may ask for further information concerning the RFI as well as further instructions on submitting a reply to it. Questions related to the RFI should be directed to the person mentioned below in clause “Contact information”. The questions should be asked in English or in Finnish and delivered by e-mail no later than 30.4.2022 at 12.00 (Finnish time). Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command will answer to the questions by delivering the collected questions and answers collectively to all recipients who have provided their contact information. The questions and answers will be delivered to the recipients by e-mail no later than 15.5.2021 at 12.00 (Finnish time). To ensure that it is possible to deliver the questions and answers to all interested respondents, Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command requests that the recipients of this RFI would name a contact person and provide his/her contact information when they have received this RFI.

3 Contact information The contact person nominated by the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command is: Mikko Kyllönen, Project Manager FDF Logistics Command Joint Systems Centre, Army Systems Section e-mail: mikko.kyllonen@mil.fi +358 299 578 478 Commercial contact: Kai Laine The Finnish Defence Forces, Logistic Command HQ e-mail: kai.laine@mil.fi +358 299 570 430 Please note that only the persons mentioned above will answer to enquiries related to this RFI. 4 Background The tactical HF radio enables voice and data communications between network stations via line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight links. The tactical HF radio operates on a medium and high frequency bands from 1.5 to 30 megahertz (MHz) providing surface wave and sky wave propagation methods. Surface wave can reach beyond the horizon to some extent. With sky wave propagation it is possible to exploit the ionospheric reflection and thus achieve communication distances up to thousands of kilometers. Near vertical incidence skywave (NVIS) enables skip-zone free communications up to hundreds of kilometers. Due the chaotic and ever-changing nature of the ionosphere and the unstable usability of the HF frequencies in general, a high level of adaptivity in the data modem and in the automatic frequency selection or automatic link establishment (ALE) is critical in the HF radio system. This is especially important in tactical communications where fast and reliable message delivery is crucial. A system that offers only static data waveform modes and fixed frequency or slow ALE is therefore not an option in Finnish Defence Forces tactical operating environment. The operator input for the communication parameters and settings should be minimal. The tactical HF radio should support both mobile and stationary use. A need for data capacity has risen also for tactical level HF communication. Nowadays it is required to have an ability to transfer more data within shorter time frame than in the past. In practice this means ability to send and receive e-mails, images, track data or instant messages beside the traditional short and flash messages. This requires a WBHF waveform. Software-defined radio (SDR) architecture enables flexible waveform development which is required to have a future-proof HF radio system. By having an embedded SDR waveform the need for auxiliary equipment can be minimized. The Finnish tactical operating environment is challenging from several perspectives of the HF communications. The weather conditions can get hard especially during winter with extremely low temperatures, snow and ice. This sets special physical requirements for radios and accessory devices like antennas. Also, the location at northern latitudes makes the use of skywave more complex and difficult due the direction of earths geomagnetic field and sudden ionospheric disturbances. To operate effectively in this special HF environment requires sophisticated and highly adaptive HF waveform, which can react to natural or man-made changes in frequency usability automatically and fast as possible. 5 Preliminary requirements The following list defines some of the general and preliminary requirements for the tactical HF radio system. Its main purpose is to give overall idea and rough guidelines to the RFI respondent on what kind of tactical HF radio system Finnish Defence Forces is looking for. The requirements below are not the final system requirements, although the exact and detailed system requirements are inherited from these preliminary requirements. The final system requirements are not to be released in this RFI process. They will be released at the possible RFQ phase before the actual procurement.   5.1 Technical requirements 5.1.1 1.5 to 30 MHz frequency band 5.1.2 data and voice communications 5.1.3 adaptive and high data rate waveform(s) 5.1.4 adaptive and high-speed ALE 5.1.5 adaptive and robust data waveform(s) 5.1.6 fully encrypted RF interface 5.1.7 independent from external time source 5.1.8 ability to receive data and voice in radio silence 5.1.9 unicast (ARQ) and broadcast (non-ARQ) communications 5.1.10 open application programming interface (API) for customers integration purposes 5.1.11 customers full access to all communication parameters and settings 5.1.12 remote control via standardized interface 5.1.13 flexible software architecture 5.1.14 waveform portability and multi-waveform support 5.1.15 integrable to third-party C2 system 5.2 Physical requirements 5.2.1 portable manpack HF radio 5.2.2 1 to 2 HF antenna interfaces 5.2.3 mountable to external power amplifier and fixed power supply 5.2.4 suitable for vehicular, naval vessel, helicopter and stationary installations 5.2.5 12 hours of battery life in operating mode 5.2.6 suitable for harsh field environments 5.2.7 suitable for co-site installations 5.2.8 AC mains power supply beside battery 5.2.9 physical user interface for basic operations and monitoring 5.2.10 graphical user interface for basic operations and monitoring 5.2.11 built-in GNSS receiver 5.2.12 external GNSS antenna 5.2.13 emergency erase 5.2.14 control for external auxiliary devices 5.2.15 cable and wireless connection to user terminal and external IP network 6 Market consultation questions for the recipient of RFI The following list includes questions and information requests on specific areas on your tactical HF radio. 6.1 Technical questions 6.1.1 Describe the user functions of your tactical HF radio. 6.1.2 Describe the physical characteristics of your tactical HF radio. 6.1.3 Describe the electrical characteristics of your tactical HF radio. 6.1.4 Describe the RF characteristics of your tactical HF radio. 6.1.5 Describe the hardware architecture of your tactical HF radio. 6.1.6 Describe the software architecture of your tactical HF radio. 6.1.7 Describe the waveforms of your tactical HF radio. 6.1.8 Describe the ALE’s of your tactical HF radio. 6.1.9 Describe the communication protocols of your tactical HF radio. 6.1.10 Describe the antijamming and link protection capabilities of your tactical HF radio. 6.1.11 Describe the crypto and crypto key management of your tactical HF radio. 6.1.12 Describe to what extend your product supports new HF waveform portability. 6.1.13 Describe the hardware limitations of your tactical HF radio from the point of porting future HF waveforms. 6.1.14 Describe the user interface features of your tactical HF radio. 6.1.15 Describe the data logging capabilities of your tactical HF radio. 6.1.16 Describe how the communication parameters are created, uploaded, secured and erased in your tactical HF radio. 6.1.17 Describe your approach to installations of your tactical HF radio in different platforms. 6.1.18 What military and industrial standards your tactical HF radio is based upon? 6.1.19 What auxiliary devices or software you offer to be used with your tactical HF radio? 6.1.20 How often do you release new waveform features for your tactical HF radio? 6.1.21 With the possible procurement, are you willing to release the system API and technical description to the customer for integration of your tactical HF radio to third-party C2 system? 6.1.22 Are you willing to loan 2 to 3 units of your tactical HF radio with necessary auxiliary devices and software for field and integration testing in Finland conducted be the Finnish Defence Forces? 6.2 Commercial, administrative and maintenance related questions 6.2.1 Describe the pricing policy of your tactical HF radio on mass procurement. 6.2.2 Describe the spare parts pricing policy of your tactical HF radio on mass procurement. 6.2.3 Describe possible procurement restrains via immaterial rights or export licenses of your tactical HF radio. 6.2.4 Describe the commercial terms and policy of the software and firmware life cycle updates of your tactical HF radio. 6.2.5 Describe the release policy of the technical description and API’s of your tactical HF radio. 6.2.6 Describe the typical maintenance policy of your tactical HF radio. 6.2.7 Describe your approach on establishing the maintenance capability of your tactical HF radio to Finland by Finnish Defence Forces strategic partner. 6.2.8 What is the current repair cycle of your fielded tactical HF radio? 6.2.9 What are terms and conditions of the warranty of your tactical HF radio? 6.2.10 Describe the fallback policy of possible obsolete components of your tactical HF radio. 6.2.11 Describe your approach to a customer specific features via waveform updates on your tactical HF radio. 6.2.12 Describe how you have organized the supply chain of your tactical HF radio. 6.2.13 Describe the ownership relations of your company. 6.2.14 Is your tactical HF radio approved by any governmental cyber security official? And if so, what is security level it is approved to? Finnish Defence Forces Logistics command would appreciate that your company answers to all questions as accurately as possible. 7 Instructions on submitting a reply to the RFI Replies must be delivered in English or in Finnish on a CD-ROM in a pdf or MS Office format to the following address: Puolustusvoimien logistiikkalaitoksen esikunta/ Logistics Command Headquarders Kaupallinen osasto/hankintasektori 4 PL 69 33541 Tampere FINLAND tel: +358 299 800 Please note that the reference number RFI 2178/2022 should be used. The delivery of the replies must be no later than 31.5.2022, 12.00 (Finnish time).

The respondent must state which parts of the reply to RFI include private trade or professional secrets referred to in the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621 / 1999) 24.1 § paragraph 20. According to the said Act 24.1 § paragraph 20, information on private trade or professional secret shall be considered confidential if access to that information by others would cause economic loss to the private economic operator. Trade and professional secrets shall be clearly marked on the reply, for example, by using brackets or by delivering the reply in two copies so that the trade secrets are crossed out or otherwise erased from the other (public) copy. Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command shall make a final estimation of whether the replies shall be considered confidential pursuant to the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621 / 1999). Should the RFI phase lead to a procurement process, the replies to this RFI shall become public insofar as they do not include confidential information in accordance with the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621 / 1999). If the RFI phase leads to a procurement process, but the procurement is suspended (by a suspension decision) and the procurement is reinitiated, the replies to this RFI shall be confidential in accordance with the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621 / 1999) 24.1 § paragraph 17 until a new contract has been concluded in the new procurement process.