Babcock to deliver HF communications for New Zealand Defence Force

Babcock to deliver HF communications for New Zealand Defence Force Babcock International has been awarded a “key contract” to provide High Frequency (HF) radio communications services to New Zealand and its international ‘Five Eyes’ allies. Initially worth $30.6 million NZD (A$29.1 million) to Babcock, the new HF system is expected to be operational by August 2023 and potentially paves the way similar future bids for global customers including the Commonwealth of Australia. According to a company news release, Babcock’s experts “will deliver critical equipment replacements to support the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) over the near term, with an extensive customer through-life support programme forming the remainder of the contract”. “This is one of a number of planned investments from the Defence Capability Plan 2019 that will strengthen our national resilience,” said New Zealand Defence Minister Ron Mark. “High frequency radio provides communications coverage in places that satellites cannot 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.” Mark added that “our service women 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”, noting that the NZDF’s current HF radio infrastructure was installed in the 1980s and has reached the end of its life. Babcock Australasia CEO, David Ruff, said the contract “leverages our long-standing, 18 year track record in the UK, where Babcock has been providing a Defence High Frequency Communications Service to the UK Ministry of Defence”, adding that “Babcock will now provide its specialist technology and know-how to New Zealand as a key Five Eyes partner.” Secure military communications are now seen as a key enabler for militaries more than ever before, with “information superiority” in an era of high-bandwidth data transfer being seen as vital for success on the battlefield or even in non-combat operations. This is even more important in Australasia and the South Pacific, due to the vastness and remoteness of the region, which makes long-range communications essential for militaries. The Five Eyes alliance includes New Zealand, Australia, the UK, the United States and North America, enabling their sharing of data and information.