Governmental and Security Communications
Ensuring public safety is a top priority. Our governmental and security communication products empower agencies, police, first responders, and paramilitary forces with reliable, cost-effective HF data communications. Supporting both proprietary and standards-based protocols, including 2G ALE and MIL-STD-188-110B, our products enhance operational effectiveness. The RA product range integrates seamlessly with existing HF and VHF radio transceivers, delivering secure long-range and beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) voice, position tracking, and data services.
Contents
- Introduction
- RA Family Overview
- Products at a Glance
- Applications
- MARS, CFARS, and CAP Solutions
- Operational Needs
- Security Needs
- Deployment Of RA Products in The Governmental Sector
- Ease Of Configuration of The RA Family
- RA Digital Voice and Data Modem Technology
- Services Offered by RA Products
- Integration, Support, and Evaluation
- Export Control and Product Classification
RA Family Overview
The RA product family is designed to enhance the capabilities of HF, VHF, and UHF radio networks. With advanced waveforms and robust engineering, it provides secure voice, email, chat, and position tracking while ensuring interoperability across diverse radio systems. Suitable for portable, vehicle-mounted, maritime, and fixed-site deployments, the RA range strengthens communication infrastructure for security and emergency response operations. The diagram below illustrates its role in existing radio networks.
Products at a Glance
Standards-Compliant Modems
Email Bundle: TC4 & RC50 for Icom IC-F8101
The TC4 modem module from RapidM can be installed internally in the Icom IC-F8101 HF transceiver. RC50 Email Software brings HF email capability to a connected PC or laptop. Users access email using well-known email clients such as Microsoft Outlook or similar.
Secure Voice & Data Modems
RA7 Secure Voice & Data Modem / Rack-Mount
The RA7 is a secure voice and data modem which can be mounted in a 19-inch rack. The modem is intended for use in control rooms and and ships. The RA7 is part of the RA product family and connects to a single HF or V/UHF radio to provide secure voice, data and position services.
RA3 Secure Voice & Data Modem / Vehicular
The RapidM RA3 is designed for vehicle installation and is suitable for use by first responders, security agencies, governmental and paramilitary users. The RA3 is a purpose-built secure voice and data modem that works with any HF or V/UHF radio via the audio channel. The unit delivers clear, secure digital voice and automated position transfers in the most adverse channel conditions.
Software
Evaluation and Test
Applications
There is a growing demand for modern, user-friendly communication services that mirror the integration we have come to expect from smartphones. Users need clear and intuitive interfaces, along with essential features such as location tracking, voice communication, text messaging, and file transfer. Situational awareness capabilities are also crucial for informed decision-making in dynamic environments.
While mobile phones have fostered a digitally savvy generation adept at leveraging voice and data services, military communication equipment has largely remained outdated. Often designed decades ago for long operational lifespans, these systems struggle to keep pace with evolving operational demands. As military and tactical operations become increasingly complex, the need for modern digital communication solutions has never been more critical.
RapidM's RA range of terminals addresses this need by offering a fully integrated suite of voice and data applications that function in a mobile phone-like manner. Equipped with a GPS/GLONASS positioning module, these devices provide commanders with the situational awareness needed for important decisions.
Integrating voice and data services remains a challenge for systems integrators, but RapidM's RA equipment and PC applications simplify this process. By enabling seamless communication over the same network and channel, these terminals ensure that users can efficiently access both voice and data services, making it easier for personnel to stay connected, regardless of their environment.
MARS, CFARS, and CAP Solutions
RapidM has developed tailored solutions to support Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) operators, including the RM2-MARS, a dedicated modem unit, and the TC4-MARS, a radio-specific embedded solution designed for the Icom IC-F8101. Both solutions meet the MARS requirement for a 2400 bps MIL-STD-188-110A data modem, with the option to extend to 9600 bps in compliance with MIL-STD-188-110B.
These products are also an option for operators within the Canadian Forces Affiliate Radio System (CFARS) and Civil Air Patrol (CAP), ensuring reliable and standards-compliant communication. RapidM remains committed to providing specialised solutions that meet the needs of MARS, CFARS, and CAP users.
Operational Needs
Many agencies face the challenge of modernising their communication systems while ensuring interoperability across a diverse range of radio equipment. The RA family of products addresses this need by enabling the digitisation of radio communications, allowing legacy and modern radios to work together within a single, secure network.
Communication inventories often consist of older analogue radios alongside newer models from various manufacturers. While these radios may support SSB or FM voice communication, interoperability is often limited. Some modern radios offer data modes, but these are frequently incompatible with other devices, creating a fragmented system that complicates operations and procurement decisions.
The RA family provides a comprehensive suite of secure digital communication solutions designed to bridge this gap. With an integrated vocoder, RA products digitise voice communications, while an embedded modem facilitates secure data transmission over analogue radio links. By incorporating RA products, agencies can establish unified digital communications, ensuring compatibility across HF, VHF, and UHF transceivers, even in mixed-generation setups.
In many operational scenarios, beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) communications are critical—particularly in satellite-denied environments where reliance on mobile or satellite networks is impractical. While VHF transceivers are suitable for short-range communications, HF transceivers are essential for long-range BLOS connectivity.
RapidM's RA products are engineered to meet these demands with a high-performance modem, optimised for BLOS operations over HF transceivers. Additionally, they seamlessly integrate with both HF and V/UHF transceivers, providing agencies with a robust and adaptable communication solution.
To further enhance interoperability, RA products are designed to work directly with modern transceivers featuring embedded RapidM TC modules. This allows radio manufacturers to offer a suite of complementary devices and software, ensuring a consistent and secure digital communication experience across their product range.
The diagram above illustrates how a TacPoint terminal connects to a radio equipped with an embedded RapidM modem module, typically via Ethernet. By integrating RapidM TC modules, new radio designs can effortlessly interoperate with RA family products, extending secure voice, data, and encryption capabilities to both new and existing radios within an agency's inventory.
This level of interoperability ensures a future-proof solution, enabling organisations to modernise their communication networks without having to replace legacy equipment—maximising investment value while enhancing operational effectiveness.
Security Needs
In addition to interoperability, security remains a top priority for agencies requiring reliable radio communication. Protecting sensitive information is especially critical for strategic HF beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) and long-haul communications, where high-power HF systems represent a significant investment.
Older analogue FM or SSB equipment is highly vulnerable to interception and eavesdropping, while newer systems may not always be trusted. To ensure secure operations, a standardised and robust encryption capability is essential.
RapidM's RA family of products addresses these concerns by incorporating AES-256 encryption, a widely trusted and high-integrity standard for securing both voice and data transmissions. Each RA product features a built-in secure modem, enabling encrypted communication without the need for external encryption devices. Additionally, the system allows users to easily generate and manage cryptographic keys, ensuring that sensitive communications remain protected against unauthorized access.
By integrating RA encryptors with existing transceivers, agencies can achieve secure, reliable, and fully interoperable communication, safeguarding critical information while maintaining operational efficiency.
Deployment of RA Products in the Governmental Sector
Communication networks operate across multiple deployment levels, each with distinct requirements for size, weight, mounting, and capability. Additionally, radio transceivers from different vendors are often used at various levels within a network, limiting interoperability when relying on built-in digital capabilities. Agencies also require reliable asset tracking and seamless communication between newly procured vehicle radios and existing base station systems.
The RA family provides a comprehensive range of interoperable products optimised for diverse deployment scenarios. The lineup includes solutions for rack-mounted base stations, vehicle-mounted systems, man-pack configurations, mobile units, and wearable devices. Each product is designed to ensure secure and reliable communication across different operational environments, enabling seamless integration between new and existing radio systems.
| RA7 | TrackPoint + RA3 | RA5 | RA3 | RA2 | RA1 |
| Rack-mount | Base Station, Vehicle | Base Station, Vehicle, Man-Pack | Vehicle | Mobile | Wearable |
Ease of Configuration of the RA Family
Configuring and managing a radio network requires efficient processes for setting up nodes and updating encryption keys. Our RA products are designed for easy configuration, supporting both cryptographic key management through Key Management Software (KMS) and system and network setup using System Configuration Software (SCS). These configurations are generated in a secure environment, transferred, and loaded onto devices via a USB fill device.
The RA5 and RA7 models can be configured directly using a USB fill device containing KMS and SCS-generated settings. For the RA1, RA2, and RA3 models, an additional CLS software component is required for configuration. This streamlined approach ensures that RA equipment can be easily configured and reconfigured as needed, enhancing operational flexibility and security.
RA Digital Voice and Data Modem Technology
Reliable communication is critical, especially in challenging conditions where traditional solutions fail. RA devices incorporate RapidM's advanced modem technology, ensuring robust beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) communications even in high-noise environments. This allows connectivity when it matters most, eliminating the need to fall back on unencrypted analogue voice during poor channel conditions.
At the core of RA equipment is RapidM's high-performance HF-2 Digital Voice Modem, specifically designed for secure digital voice. Unlike standardised modem waveforms, HF-2 is optimised for superior voice quality and extended range. When paired with TWELP low data rate Vocoders, RA devices provide exceptional voice clarity and connectivity even in low signal-to-noise environments. The below performance specifications illustrate that RA devices maintain data and secure voice connectivity even when signal strength is critically low, outperforming other solutions in the market.
Most RA products feature the RapidM TC2 modem module or a variant thereof, leveraging RapidM's expertise in HF modem design. The modem features adaptive equalisation to mitigate in-band distortion and interference, resulting in extended range and increased throughput. Its Secure Digital Voice (SDV) capability is powered by RapidM's proprietary voice modem, which digitises audio using a low-rate Vocoder before applying AES-256 encryption for secure transmission. The modem then converts digital data and voice signals into an analogue format, ensuring seamless radio transmission. These functions are integrated into the RapidM EF-256 Software, providing an unmatched level of performance and security for digital radio communications.
With this cutting-edge technology, RA equipment delivers superior range, performance, and security, ensuring reliable digital voice and data communications in even the most demanding conditions.
Services Offered by RA Products
Ensuring seamless integration of voice, data, and position services is essential for effective communication in remote field operations. The RA products deliver a comprehensive solution by combining secure voice communications, position tracking, and messaging capabilities.
- Voice Communications Security: RA devices utilise digital encryption, low-rate Vocoders, and dedicated digital voice waveforms.
- Position Information: The RA family can securely receive, transmit, and request blue force and neutral positions, enhancing situational awareness.
- Messaging: Users can send and receive secure chat messages, form templates, emails, and quick codes over both point-to-point and broadcast links.
By integrating these capabilities, the RA family provides a powerful and efficient communication solution tailored for demanding operational environments.
Integration, Support, and Evaluation
Modern communication systems are inherently complex, often spanning multiple networks and protocols. The RA system is frequently integrated into larger systems, requiring interfacing with adjacent equipment and protocols. To support these integration needs, RapidM offers dedicated engineering assistance and software solutions.
The RapidM EntryPoint Software provides an OSI Layer 7 Application Program Interface (API), enabling third-party system integrators to transport data efficiently through the RA network. Accompanied by a comprehensive Interface Control Document (IDC) and sample software, this solution simplifies the helps system integrators implement solutions quickly and effectively. With these resources, RapidM ensures the integration of RA products into broader communication infrastructures, enhancing interoperability and operational efficiency.
The RA system is a highly adaptable communication solution, offering a wide range of integration and mounting options to meet varying deployment scenarios and requirements. Designed for compatibility with radios from numerous vendors, the RA system ensures seamless operation even in multi-faceted communication networks that employ different protocols.
To ensure that the system functions as expected, RapidM leverages a global network of experienced value-added resellers (VARs) with deep product knowledge and system integration expertise. Additionally, RapidM's engineers are available to assist with system planning and verification.
To support the evaluation and decision-making process, RapidM offers accessible and affordable demonstration packages, along with regular participation in security exhibitions worldwide. For those interested in hands-on testing, RapidM's in-country field evaluations allow potential users to assess the RA system under real-world conditions. In-country field evaluations are supported by local VARs, equipped with demonstration equipment, marketing materials, and technical documentation. By arrangement, RapidM head office representatives can also provide on-site assistance during these evaluations.
For operators requiring radio-specific integration, the RA system includes built-in support for interfacing with a variety of radio models. This support is complemented by tailored profiles and interface cabling, and if a particular radio is not already supported, RapidM engineers can assist with the necessary integration.
RapidM is committed to long-term support, offering a minimum product support lifetime of 10 years—with the option to extend this period based on customer requirements—and a standard 24-month warranty on RA equipment. Additionally, RA devices are designed to accommodate different languages, supporting voice prompts, keyboards, and user interface text changes, with specific language options available upon inquiry.
Finally, drawing on extensive system documentation and years of experience, RapidM provides both on-site and off-site training for end-users, resellers, and system integrators. Training sessions can be held at RapidM's premises in Pretoria, South Africa, or a local site, ensuring that all users are well-equipped to maximise the benefits of the RA product range.
Together, these comprehensive services—from system planning and integration to evaluation, training, and long-term support—demonstrate RapidM's commitment to delivering a fully integrated and adaptable communications solution.
Integration, Support, and Evaluation
RapidM's RA and RT product families offer similar communication capabilities but are classified differently based on security features, intended users, and export control requirements.
Export Control Considerations
RA equipment is designed for commercial and governmental users but is classified as a dual-use item due to certain capabilities listed under the Wassenaar Arrangement. While dual-use items remain subject to export controls, they typically require fewer regulatory approvals than military-grade RT equipment, streamlining the export process. In most cases, an export permit is sufficient for international sales.
Key Differences: RA vs RT Families
The RT family is specifically developed for military users, featuring military-grade encryption, ultra-low-rate voice coders, and requiring an end-user certificate (EUC) for export approval. In contrast, the RA family is intended for commercial and governmental users, offering high-grade security, low-rate voice coders, and requiring end-country approval for export.
| Feature | RA Family | RT Family |
| Security | AES-256, 99 keys (Government Agency) | AES-256, Key Phrase, 256 keys (Military Grade) |
| Digital Voice | MELPe or TWELP (600, 1200, 2400 bps) | Ultra-Robust TWELP (300, 600, 1200, 2400 bps) |
| Export Control | Partial – Requires End-Country Approval | Full – Requires EUC & Export Approval |