UK-based military communication specialist, Racal Acoustics, today launched its first Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Rugged Terminal Adapter at the 2008 Eurosatory exhibition in Paris.

The adapter, which is specifically designed for military use, is one of the first of its kind on the market and makes use of existing military infrastructure, while allowing military forces to take a further step to a converged IP architecture future where voice is a central feature. Using commercial IP software standards enhanced to facilitate the military deployment of VoIP, the adapter connects analogue handsets to a range of devices including field deployed IP networks and Data Enabled Radios. It is ‘plug and play’ ready – meaning that it simply needs to be attached to existing devices to provide an integrated voice service.

Benefits of the VoIP Rugged Terminal Adapter from a deployment standpoint include it being flexible and easy to use: sealed and sized for transportability. It has a large emphasis on connectivity and operational features along with being the optimum size, weight and power to bring converged capabilities to the forward edge of the battle area. The VoIP Rugged Terminal Adapter allows the quick deployment of an IP standards-based voice network, enabling most existing analogue handsets, not solely Racal Acoustics handsets, to provide command and control communications for a warfighting unit – a definite tactical advantage. The technology can also support a range of data and video applications.

Steve Rist, Product Manager at Racal Acoustics said: “The importance of VoIP is in creating a common, standards-based, converged network, to enable the right information to go to the right people, not just one time, but all the time. Our VoIP Rugged Terminal Adapter adds voice to this capability.”

“It provides a realistic path for in-theatre connectivity, one that gets vital information to and from the warfighter. In summary, it provides militaries around the world with a seamless, cost-effective path to full IP telephony as they see fit to deploy the technology,” he concluded.

Steve Rist, Product Manager at Racal Acoustics, will be exhibiting the VoIP Rugged Terminal Adapter at Eurosatory, the Premier International Land, Airland, Homeland Defence Exhibition in Paris from 16 - 20 June 2008. You can find Racal Acoustics at Stand R200a.