Defence & Space

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

A contractor has been selected for the repair of Mk 75 guns on Polish OHP frigates

The Gdynia Naval Port Command has published information on the outcome of the tender procedure for the repair of two…

2025-07-02 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

SIPRI: Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report entitled SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which, among other things, discusses the issue of…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Polish 35 mm SA-35 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun with PIT-Radwar

During the recent MSPO trade fair in Kielce, the company PIT-Radwar presented its proposal for a 35 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun…

2025-06-13 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 13 minutes

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

A contractor has been selected for the repair of Mk 75 guns on Polish OHP frigates

The Gdynia Naval Port Command has published information on the outcome of the tender procedure for the repair of two…

2025-07-02 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

SKW Cryptographic Security Certificate for Polish Comp@n Radio Set from the WB Group

The WB Group announced that the Comp@n system radio set, developed by its subsidiary Radmor, along with the Cryptographic Document Management…

2025-06-14 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Advancing multi-domain EW operations: Rohde & Schwarz unveils latest innovations at AOC Europe

Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates the next generation of SIGINT/EW systems, sensor fusion and signal analysis solutions, designed to meet the evolving…

2025-05-12 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Autonomous and Unmanned Systems by Łukasiewicz – PIAP at the OPEX 2025 Training Ground in Italy

During the HEDI OPEX 2025 experimental campaign at the CEPOLISPE training ground in Italy, the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Industrial…

2025-06-28 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Debut of Foudre – the French HIMARS

As previously announced by Turgis & Gaillard, the 55th International Paris Air and Space Show served as the venue for the…

2025-06-23 | Radosław Niesobski | 2 minutes

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Polish Ministry of National Defence: New Contract for K2 Tanks and Support Vehicles Imminent

In Warsaw, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, along with Secretary of State at the Ministry…

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Bayraktar TB2 and FlyEye Drones to Support Polish Police Manhunt for Killer Near Limanowa

The Bayraktar TB2 drone and FlyEye systems will support the Polish police in the search for 57-year-old Tadeusz Duda, suspected…

2025-06-30 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes

Galvion’s European Production Hub in Poland is formally opened by the Ambassador of Canada tothe Republic of Poland

Canadian company Galvion announced that the Canadian Ambassador to Poland, Catherine Godin, officially opened the European Production Hub in Gdańsk.

2025-06-26 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

A contractor has been selected for the repair of Mk 75 guns on Polish OHP frigates

The Gdynia Naval Port Command has published information on the outcome of the tender procedure for the repair of two…

2025-07-02 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

East Shield and the Baltic Defense Line: Cooperation and Investment in Defense Are the Cornerstone of Europe’s Security

East Shield, the Baltic Defense Line, the integration of available deterrence and defense capabilities, and EU defense funding were the…

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Russia Loses World’s Largest Helicopter, Mi-26, in Ukrainian Attack on Crimea

The Security Service of Ukraine reported that during a special operation at the Kirovske military airfield in occupied Crimea, a Pantsir-S1 air…

2025-06-29 | Rafał Muczyński | 4 minutes

Finland Ministry of Defense selects ICEYE for space-based intelligence and surveillance capabilities

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE and the Finnish Ministry of Defense have signed a Letter of Intent that enables the Finnish Defense…

2025-06-27 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Axiom Mission 4: The Historic Spaceflight of Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski

June 25, 2025, will go down in history as the day when the second Pole in our history flew into…

2025-06-25 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes
Shooting

CZ Shooting Team athletes take home 13 medals from the CZ Extreme Euro Open

Sport shooters representing Ceska zbrojovka brought back six gold, four silver, and three bronze medals from Hodonice, along with four…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Upgraded Z8i Scope from SWAROVSKI OPTIK

Swarovski Optik, the Austrian optics manufacturer with nearly 80 years of tradition, has unveiled an upgraded version of its Z8i…

2025-07-03 | Mariusz Piwowar | 3 minutes

Upgraded Z8i Scope from SWAROVSKI OPTIK

Swarovski Optik, the Austrian optics manufacturer with nearly 80 years of tradition, has unveiled an upgraded version of its Z8i…

2025-07-03 | Mariusz Piwowar | 3 minutes

Streamlight introduces the SL-SideSaddle

Streamlight, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting tools, announces the SL-SideSaddle series, a new hands-free lighting solution built for outdoor adventure…

2025-07-01 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

IFRE 2025: Maskpol Showcases Protective Suits and Gas Masks

Maskpol, a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), presented part of its product range—protective suits and gas masks—at the 5th…

2025-06-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

UF PRO Introduces Waist/Flex Belts to Its Product Line

UF PRO, a Slovenian manufacturer of professional apparel and part of the Mehler Systems group, is adding a new accessory to its lineup…

2025-06-06 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

CZ Shooting Team athletes take home 13 medals from the CZ Extreme Euro Open

Sport shooters representing Ceska zbrojovka brought back six gold, four silver, and three bronze medals from Hodonice, along with four…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Enforce Tac 2025 starts on February 24th

Enforce Tac is an international trade fair aimed at law enforcement officers, experts from government agencies, and representatives of the…

2025-01-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

CZ Introduces the New CZ P-10 C PORTED Model

CZ P-10 C PORTED – a compact pistol with tamed recoil thanks to an integrated compensator.

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Meprolight MMX3 and MMX4 – Lightweight Magnifiers with Quality Optics

The Mepro MMX3 and MMX4, a new line of compact magnifiers from the Israeli manufacturer. How do they perform in practice and…

2025-06-27 | Krzysztof Ptak | 8 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Bayraktar TB3 Debuts

The 55th edition of the International Paris Air and Space Show, held in the French capital, provided an opportunity for…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

Setting Up a Shooting Belt: An Example with Clawgear

To assist with shooting training and beyond, various belts and gear configurations have been developed and customized to suit individual needs. It’s…

2024-11-28 | Łukasz Kołodziejski | 14 minutes

Over 100% increase in gun permits in Poland in 2024

The Polish Police have released statistical data on firearm permits issued in 2024. An increasing number of Poles now hold…

2025-02-20 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Firearms In Poland 2023: Number of permits continues to grow

The National Police Headquarters has released statistics regarding the number of firearm permits and firearms themselves in the hands of…

2024-02-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

5 Best Value ATN Rifle Scopes Under €1500

ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics, smart night vision, and thermal vision technology. The innovative features and ergonomic designs…

2022-11-11 | Redakcja | 8 minutes

MILMAG Visits Grand Power

Grand Power is a Slovak manufacturer of the acknowledged good quality firearms. Take part in our guided tour with English subtitles.

2022-05-23 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

Meprolight MMX3 and MMX4 – Lightweight Magnifiers with Quality Optics

The Mepro MMX3 and MMX4, a new line of compact magnifiers from the Israeli manufacturer. How do they perform in practice and…

2025-06-27 | Krzysztof Ptak | 8 minutes

Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X – a Bayonet of Light for Your Weapon

The devil’s not so scary once you shine a light on him—and he’s certainly easier to neutralize in the spotlight. A weapon-mounted flashlight…

2025-06-09 | Anna Mielczarek | 6 minutes

EOTECH Holographic Sight – History, Technology, Practice

The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world. A favorite sight of many…

2024-09-02 | Michał Gaweł | 12 minutes

FONET System – New Enhanced Variant

The widely used system for integration of communication and data transmission named FONET perfectly meets today’s requirements of the armed forces of many countries. However, in order to meet the demands of the future, the WB Group introduces the development of a digital vehicle communication platform. The improved FONET system expands capabilities as far as the integration of communication and data transfer are concerned.

 

 

 

The FONET digital platform for integration of vehicle communication systems and sensors is one of the greatest commercial successes of the WB Group. The system has been developed for over twenty years, and is widely used in most modern armoured fighting vehicles as well as other vehicles of the Polish Armed Forces. There are also many export orders. A great success was the sale of the license rights for the production to the US company Harris – currently L3Harris. FONET, under the name RF7800I Tactical Intercom System, provides the equipment in thousands of vehicles and command systems around the world. It is used in a total exceeding 10,000 systems both by the US Armed Forces and their allies to which it was delivered under the FMS Programme.

User controls in one of the possible configurations of the FONET System / Image: WB Group

The FONET System enables the integration of various communication systems such as operator desktops that act as internal wired voice communication functions in a vehicle, wireless communications, wired communications, on-board computers, audio communication via the Internet in VoIP technology, sensors and effectors installed in a given vehicle

New Requirements

– “The FONET System continues to meet the requirements of users” emphasises Krzysztof Skrzypiński, Development Manager of WB Electronics S.A. “However, we perceive needs that have become the reason to elaborate a further development of this proven system.”

Krzysztof Skrzypiński notes that the demand grows for computing power related to the processing of an increasing amount of data that reaches vehicle crews. Requirements have appeared in relation to access systems with classified information, forcing work on multi-clause systems. Demands for registration of activities are growing as well. Military vehicles are now also integrated with an increasing number of unmanned systems. In addition, there is also a need to ensure the production capacity of the system for another decade. These factors meant that the WB Group has introduced another development of the FONET System

Elements of the FONET system with central unit mounted in the interior of a vehicle / Image: WB Group

In Order To Process More Data

In comparison with its predecessor, the improved FONET System has much greater data processing capacity. This is possible thanks to a central unit with a four-core processor with Advanced RISC Machine (ARM) architecture. Due to its implementation, the system provides its users with the opportunity to introduce newer and more complex combinations of battle management, command or fire control systems. It also allows for the use of complicated and advanced communication systems without the need for additional external devices.

Possible configuration of the improved FONET System / Image: WB Group

Increased computing power can be used to implement various functions that enhance the system’s capabilities. It is possible to increase the number of radio channels with Mixed-Excitation Linear Prediction (MELPe) 2400 encoding for all wireless stations installed in the vehicle. The number of voice streams in VoIP technology encoded by the G.792 codec was also increased. Currently, there are 32 of them.

A central unit of the improved FONET System containing a four-core processor with ARM architecture / Image: WB America

Greater computing power also makes possible introducing new functionalities to the system such as voice control of the system functions, or the implementation of a speech to text function. It also enables processing video streams from both unmanned systems and cameras mounted on the vehicle.

The user’s desktop has a modular structure, which facilitates the introduction of various functionalities. It is equipped with a graphical display with a resolution of 320 × 240 pixels that makes possible display of video images or conducting conversations in the form of videoconferencing.

The FONET System operator’s desktop with a 320 × 240 pixel display, which enables display of video images or conducting talks in the form of videoconferencing / Image: Jakub Link-Lenczowski

The Multi-Clause System

The high degree of security has been preserved in the new system. Let us recall that the FONET System has been authorised to work within the NATO secret clause systems fitted in the command vehicles of the Multi-National Division (MND). Developing the vehicle communication platform has maintained quick access to communications when launching the system. It is already available and ready to use in a few seconds after turning the power on.

The FONET System user’s desktop with two displays enabling connectivity to multi-clause communications / Image: WB Group

The improved FONET System also enables use of systems requiring a high degree of security like Virtual Private Network, VLAN with encryption or SYSLOG with encryption. It has a built-in firewall for wireless networks.

The enhanced version of the FONET System is equipped with a built-in encryption mechanism. There is the possibility of using encryption mechanisms supplied by the customer to whom the digital communication platform would be delivered.

A display configuration of the FONET System demonstrated by the WB Group / Image: WB Group

This new enhanced version has secure and encrypted operation management interfaces. A new feature is the ability to work in various openness clauses at the same time. As a result, operators entrusted with varying degrees of access to classified information or lack of such the approval can use the system.

The improved FONET is also equipped with an emergency data clearing function – the so-called Self Destruction Mode.

“Of course, the new variant of our system is fully compatible with its previous version. Therefore, it does not require replacing all devices in a vehicle” emphasizes Piotr Wojciechowski, President of the WB Group.

A Readily Available Offering

The improved FONET System is not just a prototype, but the solution is ready for serial production. It had its debut at the AUSA 2021 Show. It has already been offered on foreign markets in a tender for the equipment of motorised brigade vehicles. On the American market, it is being marketed by WB America under the name FONET Mk2.

Elements of the improved FONET System during laboratory tests / Image: WB Group

The WB Group offers this solution to European partners as a system of processing information of classified information and in multi-component systems, as well as for advanced telecommunication systems intended for vehicles or command posts of any level.

The improved FONET was presented for trials of the telecommunication system model for Polish command vehicles. As part of this work, together with other products of the WB Group, it underwent a number of trials under the supervision of the Ministry of National Defence departments responsible for the Command Vehicle Programme as well as the cyber security protocols.

As the President of Piotr Wojciechowski declares, the improved FONET System will be offered as a communications system for Polish armoured command vehicles on the KTO 8 × 8 chassis

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