High frequency communications contract won by Babcock
NewsMarch 09, 2020
NEW ZEALAND. Babcock International, aerospace and defense company, is set to become a leading provider of high frequency (HF) radio communications services to New Zealand and its international ‘Five Eyes’ allies following the awarding of a key contract.
Babcock will deliver critical equipment replacements to support the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) over the near term, with an extensive customer through-life support program forming the remainder of the contract. The new HF system is expected to be operational by August 2023.
Officials claim that the HF radio will provide communications coverage in places that are difficult for satellites to reach and where ordinary radio communications will not work. It is also a back-up system if satellite communications fail, are disrupted, or are unavailable, according to officials.
The Five Eyes alliance includes New Zealand, Australia, the U.K., the United States, and Canada, enabling their sharing of data and information.
