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Rohde & Schwarz Australia will collaborate with Babcock Australasia to supply strategic military communications equipment to the Australian Department of Defence.
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The two companies will produce high-power, liquid-cooled, high-frequency transmitters and software defined radios for the JP 9101 Enhanced Defence High Frequency Communications System (EDHFCS) program, according to a public statement made on 25 April.
The equipment will enable Australian and allied armed forces to securely communicate using voice and data from almost any location across the globe.
Rohde & Schwarz Australia managing director Gareth Evans said the companies had previously partnered in 2020 to deliver HF radios and high-power amplifiers with HF wideband capability to the New Zealand Defence Force.
“Rohde & Schwarz welcomes this new contract and opportunity to work with Babcock, which follows our recent partnership to deliver a similar upgrade for the New Zealand Defence Force,” he said.
“It is no secret that Rohde & Schwarz have a longstanding history in HF communications and our self-sufficient liquid-cooled technology is backed by decades of experience in the transmitter business.”
“(The equipment) developed by Rohde & Schwarz is the market benchmark and more than matches the Commonwealth requirement for advanced long-range BLOS communications with very high data rates and maximum reliability.
“We will fully support Babcock in implementing and operating this modern communications solution and stand ready to offer our decades-long local HF communications systems expertise and substantial through-life support capabilities.”
The new SK4110 HF high-power transmitters have a longer service life and lower failure rates due to the self-sufficient liquid-cooling system, critical module redundancy, and sustainable carbon footprint.
Babcock managing director, mission and support systems, Brad Yelland said Rohde & Schwarz will play a vital role in the delivery of the EDHFCS program to the Australian Defence Force.
“The new system will provide the Australian Defence Force and its allies with an enhanced communications capability with levels of reliability and operational resilience not seen before within this technology domain,” he said.
“We look forward to working with Rohde & Schwarz on delivering a truly national capability for Australia’s strategic military communications network.”
