The genesis

EID was established on the 8th of June, 1983, being the first R&D company ever created in Portugal, under the sponsorship of the Portuguese government. This new company was built on the basis of a team of skilled, young electronics and telecommunications engineers previously working together in the R&D department of a private-owned, Portuguese industrial group. Besides this group, EID had two more shareholders each one with 25% of the capital, which amounted to a total of € 1 million.

With the support of the Portuguese Ministry of Defence (MoD), the above-mentioned team accepted the challenge to develop a range of products as required by the ongoing modernization programme of the Armed Forces, in terms of communications. Such option propelled the in-house consolidation of state-of-the-art technologies, enabling the company to develop strong competences, internationally recognized, in the field of military communications.  

This landmark was the beginning of a close and lasting cooperation with the Portuguese Armed Forces, which was instrumental for the future of the company.

The first projects

The Portuguese Navy promoted, in the mid 70’s, the development and production in Portugal of coastal radio-beacons using solid-state radio frequency linear power amplifiers. This first project was quite successful and led to further contracts for the development of 1kW and 400W HF transmitters, also with solid-state technology. Eventually, these radios equipped all the Portuguese Navy ships and shore stations.

The microprocessor revolution

EID was one of the first companies in Portugal to use microprocessor-based technology in its products, such as: process control systems for industrial plants, information panels for railway stations and the CEG2200 LF/MF/HF radio receiver, which completed the family of the above-mentioned HF equipment.

The early 80's

The beginning of the decade saw the kick-off of two important development programmes: the PRC-425 VHF tactical transceiver and the first generation of the Integrated Communications Control System (ICCS), devoted to the automation and management of warship communications. Simultaneously, the first steps were made in the area of telephone stored program and digital switching technology.

From 1983 onwards, the PRC-425 tactical radio was sold by the thousands to the Portuguese Army, in both man-pack and vehicular versions. The ICCS prototype, featuring circuit switching, equipment remote control and ACP127 message handling, was field tested in 1985 on board Roberto Ivens frigate. She was one of the first NATO ships equipped with a fully integrated communications system, her performance being so prominent that she was frequently assigned the task of communications flagship when incorporated in NATO forces. ICCS was then considered one of the most advanced systems available in the worldwide market.

Ongoing innovation

In 1987 EID launched CX400, a digital PABX entirely developed by Portuguese engineers, under the framework of NATO’s Science for Stability programme. This paved the way for a capability build-up in this field, enabling the continuous evolution of the product and also the development of new solutions, targeting the private market as well as telecommunications operators. The development of ICC-101, an intercom system for armoured vehicles, was also concluded in 1987.

One year later, following the perceived technological trends, EID decided to invest in SMD technology, installing the appropriate tools and ensuring adequate training to its personnel. Such investment, quite huge at the time, led to a technological breakthrough in terms of manufacturing process and product miniaturization.

For the first time in Portugal, EID developed an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) to be used on time-division multiplexing switches for the purpose of time-slot processing, enabling a significant size and power consumption reduction. The use of this technology was then extended to radio equipment and naval systems.

Strategic communication networks

The modernization of the communication networks of the Portuguese Armed Forces took place in the early 90’s under the framework of contracts awarded to EID. Two complex programmes, called SINCOMAR (Navy) and SICOM (MoD) were brought about, encompassing a diversity of technologies: digital data and voice switching, transmission, message handling and telecommunication network management, enabling monitoring of the system components, their surrounding environment, statistical traffic analysis and management of maintenance resources.

The smallest hand-held military radio in the world

EID managed to design and launch, in 1991, the smallest and lightest VHF hand-held ruggedized radio in the world – the PRC-501. This equipment has been extensively used by the Portuguese troops involved in NATO peacekeeping missions in Bosnia, Angola and Mozambique. It shall be noted that the Brazilian army adopted the PRC-501 transceiver as a standard, a technology transfer programme being enforced to enable its production, assembling and testing by the local defence industry. In addition, the underlying technology was transferred to a NATO partner.

The Vasco da Gama class frigates

The third Vasco da Gama class frigate (Meko 200PN type) was commissioned in 1992. In this project, EID played the role of communications system integrator. Besides delivering radio communications equipment and ICCS (2nd generation), the company was responsible for the overall system engineering, setting to work and testing, including EMI/EMC studies and cooperation with the shipyard in the definition of the topside arrangement. The worldwide visibility of this shipbuilding programme opened the doors for the international market. In fact, and in spite of tough international competition, the first ICCS export contract was signed in 1993. The system was successfully installed on-board the Spanish Navy’s Patiño replenishment ship two years later, featuring a completely new, windows-based user interface (3rd ICCS generation).

1994-1996: new partners

A substantial change in the shareholders structure occurred in 1994. Two new partners (INDEP, a state-owned enterprise and EDP, the Portuguese power production and distribution company) joined the company, enabling a raise of the shareholders capital to around € 8,7 million.

In the very same year a new generation of message handling system entered into service. This new, fully automated, computerized system was a result of a software development effort of about 40 man-years and was indeed the first project in Portugal based on ADA software language, at the time standardized by the USA Department of Defence.

With the purpose of implementing an integrated, strategic and coordinated management of the defence industries, the Portuguese government decided to create EMPORDEF in 1996. This new holding company replaced INDEP and thus became EID’s biggest shareholder.

Widening the horizon

Over the years, through the involvement in numerous projects, EID acquired large experience and know-how in the design and implementation of C3I systems. As a consequence, the company was a front-runner in the public tenders for Portuguese main harbours Vessel Traffic Systems. In fact, in 1998, EID won 3 out of 4 of those tenders and is still today in charge of the maintenance of the Lisboa, Leixões and Setúbal systems.

The PRC-502, an upgraded version of the VHF hand-held radio, was also launched in 1998, together with the VRC-301 150 W HF tactical transceiver. As far as naval communications are concerned, the 4th generation of ICCS, incorporating state-of-the-art transmission and switching techniques, became fully operational on board Spanish, Dutch and Thai warships.

Emphasis shall be also given to Military Message Handling Systems (MMHS): EID developed and installed a complete line of products complying with STANAG 4406 Ed. 1 (MTA, UA, MS and gateways) and providing for message switching, local distribution from and to the end users and gateways for connection to ACP127 networks.

Following a strategy of technological leadership, the company decided to start the development of a new generation of tactical radios, whose concept evolved from a VHF only, frequency hopping radio to a state-of-the-art multi-band, multi-role software programmable equipment: the PCR-525. This radio is currently in production, having become the cornerstone of the Portuguese Armed Forces tactical communications system.

By the end of the century, EID deployed a secure communications system enabling interconnection between Portuguese embassies and consulates all around the world and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lisbon.

Shareholders reconfiguration

The current shareholders structure was reached in 2000, when Rohde & Schwarz joined EMPORDEF and EFACEC. The capital was increased to € 11 million.

By the same time and due to the permanent evolution of technology, ICCS was upgraded in order to remain a competitive, state-of-the-art solution. The 5th system generation, based on a distributed architecture supported on a redundant fibre optic network, was launched in 2000. This new version was designed to equip the Dutch and Spanish navies flagships: De Zeven Provinciën and Álvaro de Bazán class frigates.