Replacement the New Zealand Defence Force’s fixed high -frequency radio capability.

New Zealand Defence Minister Ron Mark has announced that Defence has signed a contract with Babcock NZ to replace the New Zealand Defence Force’s fixed high-frequency radio capability.

With Babcock delivering similar capability to the UK and proposals to the Australian Defence Force in the works, this could be a huge step towards ensuring interoperability within the ‘Five Eyes’ community. 

“Our servicewomen and men rely on communications to undertake the tasks required of them, whether it be humanitarian, constabulary or military operations. In undertaking these tasks, they operate in some of the most remote regions on the planet, from deep in the Southern Ocean to the vastness of the Pacific,” Defence Minister Ron Mark said. 

Chief executive of Babcock Australia and New Zealand David Ruff welcomed the news, highlighting the importance of up-to-date HF communications.

“It’s the last resort fail-safe when satellite communications no longer work or have been knocked out, or if you are down in the antarctic in New Zealand’s case. The system needs refreshing and upgrading,” Ruff said. 

Babcock runs HF operations with the UK and the technology and advancement from those projects will be transferred into the New Zealand operations as part of the contract, according to Ruff.

Babcock is also proposing operations with Australia to include it within its HF communications portfolio, citing added value to the Australian context by increased interoperability with Five Eyes allies in the UK and New Zealand as well as continued technology advancement. 

An additional requirement on the Australian context is not only upgrading the existing system and managing it through life by the contractor but also to include spiral technological advancement to keep it current with the latest technologies and threat scenarios. 

“This is an investment in our communities. Defence’s HF radio system will support emergency services, enabling them to maintain communications during crises,” Minster Mark said.

“The current HF radio infrastructure was installed in the 1980s and has reached the end of its life. This is one of a number of planned investments from the Defence Capability Plan 2019 that will strengthen our national resilience.”

The investment has a capital cost of $26.6 million, which is being funded from existing Defence budgets. A support contract for $2 million per annum was also signed by the New Zealand Defence Force. The new HF system is expected to be fully operational by August 2023.