HIMERA Radios with ATAK Support Encrypted Navigation and Real-Time Situational Awareness
Ukrainian-made HIMERA radio stations have now been integrated into the ATAK navigation and situational awareness ecosystem, marking a significant step in enhancing battlefield communication and coordination capabilities.
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| Credit: Himera |
The integration of HIMERA tactical radios with ATAK (Android Team Awareness Kit) enables military personnel to transmit real-time positions, tactical markers, and operational data directly through secure radio channels into ATAK’s navigation and situational awareness platform. This advancement strengthens coordination, communication, and battlefield awareness across units.
A key element of this integration is the plugin created by Wayren, an Estonian company, which allows HIMERA radios to synchronize seamlessly with ATAK networks. The system was initially tested using the civilian version of ATAK (CIVTAK) before being deployed in military contexts. Through this bridge, tactical data such as coordinates, markers, and combat updates are automatically transmitted, allowing ATAK maps to reflect the latest battlefield information without manual input.
The Android Team Awareness Kit itself is a mobile application widely adopted by NATO and Ukrainian forces. It provides mapping, navigation, and situational awareness by displaying friendly and hostile positions, mission routes, and tactical overlays. Its utility lies in enabling real-time battlefield coordination, ensuring that commanders and soldiers alike have a shared operational picture.
The integration of HIMERA radios with ATAK delivers several operational benefits. Positions and tactical markers are updated instantly across all connected devices, reducing delays in communication. Units gain improved coordination by observing each other’s movements and status directly on the digital map. Encrypted radio channels safeguard sensitive data from interception, while interoperability with systems such as Kropyva and ComBat Vision ensures compatibility across different tactical platforms.
A comparison highlights the difference between ATAK operating alone and ATAK enhanced with HIMERA radios. When used independently, ATAK relies on GPS-based maps and manual or networked updates, with communication handled separately through voice channels. With HIMERA integration, GPS data is supplemented by radio-synced positions, updates occur automatically in real time, and communication is unified into a secure voice and data channel. Security is strengthened through end-to-end encryption, and interoperability expands to include other battlefield management systems.
Several considerations accompany this integration. Reliability is improved because radios reduce dependence on internet or cellular networks, which may be unavailable or compromised in combat zones. Security is enhanced through encryption, minimizing the risk of interception. Scalability is supported, allowing larger networks of units to operate without delays. Training remains essential, as personnel must be proficient in using both ATAK and HIMERA systems to maximize their effectiveness.
The HIMERA G1 PRO radios, developed in Ukraine, are designed for secure voice and data transmission under combat conditions. Built to be rugged and portable, they provide encrypted communication with low latency, ensuring that units can exchange information quickly and reliably even in contested environments. Their role extends beyond traditional voice channels, serving as a backbone for digital data exchange that feeds directly into tactical applications.
The Himera G1 PRO, is a compact tactical radio weighing approximately 300 grams, making it five times lighter than many comparable Western systems. Despite its small size, it is engineered to withstand extreme battlefield conditions, including shock, blast, and exposure to water or gas. Its internal Li-Pol battery provides up to 48 hours of continuous operation, while charging is supported through a 5V/0.8A input.
The radio’s resilience against electronic warfare is achieved through frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology, operating with a 40 MHz hop range at 50 hops per second. Combined with AES-256 encryption and integrated post-quantum encryption developed by Quantropi, the system offers strong protection against interception, jamming, and detection.
The radios employ frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS), a technique where the operating frequency rapidly changes within a defined band. In this case, the system hops across a 40 MHz range at a rate of 50 hops per second, making it extremely difficult for adversaries to jam or intercept since the signal never remains fixed long enough to be targeted. FHSS also reduces the likelihood of detection because transmissions appear as random noise across the spectrum. To secure communications, the radios use AES-256 encryption, one of the strongest widely adopted cryptographic standards, ensuring that even if a signal is captured, its content remains unreadable without the proper key. AES-256 is considered military-grade and is trusted globally for secure communication. Additionally, the radios integrate post-quantum encryption developed by Quantropi, designed to resist attacks from future quantum computers that could potentially break classical encryption methods like RSA or ECC. This forward-looking approach future-proofs the system against emerging threats, adding another layer of resilience.
Together, these technologies provide robust protection against interception, jamming, and detection: encrypted and frequency-hopped signals are nearly impossible to decode without authorization, rapid frequency changes make sustained jamming ineffective, and spread spectrum techniques minimize the radio’s signature, making it harder to locate with electronic warfare sensors.
Connectivity features include mesh networking, enabling secure voice, data, and GPS exchange across units. The device also integrates with Android-based systems, functioning as a miniature field computer that supports planning and situational awareness applications. Its user interface is designed for simplicity, with external PTT support via U-94 connectors, USB-C and 3.5 mm ports, and Bluetooth pairing with smartphones.
RF performance specifications highlight its operational range of approximately 3 kilometers in open terrain and around 0.5 kilometers in complex environments. The radios operate across 410–493 MHz and 700–990 MHz frequency bands, with a total power output between 0.2 and 2 watts. Data throughput reaches up to 1 Mbit/s, supporting both voice and digital communication.
With an operational range of about 3 km in open terrain where clear line of sight allows reliable communication, and around 0.5 km in complex environments such as urban areas, forests, or rugged terrain where obstacles absorb or scatter signals. They function within two frequency bands, 410–493 MHz and 700–990 MHz, offering flexibility depending on mission needs: lower frequencies penetrate obstacles better, making them suitable for rugged terrain, while higher frequencies support higher data rates but are more affected by interference. The adjustable power output, ranging from 0.2 to 2 watts, allows operators to balance range, reliability, and energy consumption—higher power extends communication distance but drains the battery faster, while lower power conserves energy and reduces detectability.
With a maximum data throughput of up to 1 Mbit/s, the radios are optimized for encrypted voice communication and essential digital data exchange such as GPS coordinates, text messages, and tactical markers, though not for high-bandwidth tasks like video streaming. Importantly, they support both voice and digital communication, enabling seamless integration with systems like ATAK, where spoken commands and digital battlefield information must flow together to enhance situational awareness and operational effectiveness.
One of the key advantages of the G1 PRO is its portability and ease of use. The radio is designed for rapid deployment, requiring minimal training for operators. Its lightweight construction makes it particularly suitable for infantry units, while its ability to function as both a communication device and a situational awareness tool enhances its battlefield utility.
Production of the system has been optimized for scalability, relying on commercially available components to enable rapid manufacturing and deployment. This approach ensures that the radios can be supplied in large numbers to meet operational demands without delays.
The combination of ATAK’s situational awareness capabilities with HIMERA’s secure radio communication creates a robust system for modern battlefield operations. It ensures that tactical data flows seamlessly between units, strengthens coordination, and provides commanders with a reliable and secure operational picture. This integration represents a significant step forward in digital warfare technology, enhancing both navigation and situational awareness in complex combat environments.