The British Army has troops deployed all over the world, from well-reported warzones such as Afghanistan to lesser-known locales in Africa. With so many troops deployed in so many locales, communication is as essential to the successful operation of the nation’s military as weaponry and transport. However, maintaining reliable and strong communication and data connections in areas with conditions as diverse (and adverse) as Afghanistan, Kenya and Canada is an extremely difficult task. Not too difficult, however, for the military’s secret crack squad of cable designers – including CDC! Over the years, we’ve provided cables for a multitude of military purposes, all of which have required intensive research and some innovative thinking to bring to fruition. Here are some of the ways custom cables are keeping the military connected.

Communication between Bases and HQ

When deployed to nations as vast as Afghanistan, the military will set up numerous bases, some of which will be based in locations where you’ll be more likely to find a camel than a reliable phone signal.  However, reliable and clear communication between bases – and military HQ – is required for co-ordinating operations and relaying vital information. This is where custom cables come in. Building cables incorporating data, power and cable shielding to withstand the rigours of a combat environment, cable designers ensure that the military have reliable connections across the world, regardless of the environment in which they are operating.

Communication between Troops

Of course, it isn’t just bases that need to communicate; ground troops need to be able to communicate with their superiors back at their base as well as each other when deployed in the field.  Headphone microphones are the principal method of doing this and custom cables play a big part in their design. Cables used in headphone mics need to be durable as well as providing crystal clear communication. Some mics make use of acoustic limiting devices, with the variable levels built into a down cable, in order to make sure that speech quality is as clear as possible while also offering protection from high signal levels for the user. Reducing interference is also a crucial part of the design process; we have used the star quad formation in the past to minimise any potential interference hampering clear communication. Practical considerations also have to be made, such as the weight and durability of the cable.

Vehicle Interfaces and Data Transmission

Reconnaissance plays a big part in military operations and data recovered from reconnaissance missions needs to be transmitted in a secure and reliable manner. Custom cables designed specifically to reduce interference and combine data, power and other aspects into as little cabling as possible – such as multicore cables and screened cables – are frequently used in military vehicles. These cables need to be able to stand up a vast range of operation conditions so durability is another key aspect to consider during the design process. For more information on military cables, get in touch with CDC via our contact us page or by calling 01204 658 784.