C4 EDGE Partner Capability on Display

Article by the Australian Defence Magazine

A consortium of 31 Australian companies have demonstrated an advanced secure radio communications system for the Army, displaying their technology to senior officers in Canberra on 8 December.

From a blank sheet, C4 EDGE, led by Canberra company EOS, developed the networked radio system, delivering communications for the individual soldier up to battlegroup level, over the last 18 months.

Traditionally the Australian Defence Force acquires its tactical radios overseas from companies such as US firm L3 Harris.

In 2019 Army issued a challenge to industry to come up with a sovereign capability. Canberra company EOS responded, forming the C4 EDGE consortium in which Army invested $35 million to develop a proof of concept.

Funding was invested across the 31 SMEs in the development of some 1,000 different bits of technology.

EOS Defence Systems Australia chief executive officer Matt Jones said among the visitors to their display today was Chief of Army Lieutenant General Rick Burr and members of his senior advisory committee.

Jones said the objective had been to show Defence what Australian industry had to offer.

“We went from zero to system Technical Readiness Level 6 over 12 months, mid-COVID. We were only able to physically get everyone together in the last three weeks because of the borders,” he said.

“The capability we delivered was pretty extraordinary given the COVID situation.”

The C4 EDGE showcase event made it onto the local news