Australia has tapped the services of multinational defense firm Babcock to equip its armed forces with an upgraded high-frequency communications system.
Valued at 877 million Australian dollars ($557 million), the agreement will allow the armed forces to securely communicate using voice and other data from any location across the globe.
According to Babcock Chief Executive Officer David Lockwood, the modern threat environment makes access to local communication infrastructure uncertain.
He further stated that having an improved communications capability is essential for Canberra’s military operations.
“Our selection demonstrates our ability to bring together complex and critical digital defense capability in an area of increasing importance to our customers around the world,” Lockwood explained.
Babcock will partner with Lockheed Martin to deliver mission system components crucial for the upgrade.
Work for the contract will begin in 2023 and run over 10 years.
Investment in Communications Equipment
Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy has revealed that the government would spend 1.96 billion Australian dollars ($1.2 billion) in modernizing its communications facilities and equipment.
The country also plans to build a new communication site near Darwin and a software development center in Adelaide.
He said that the partnership with Babcock will strengthen Australia’s high-frequency communications capacity and develop workforce skills, knowledge, and expertise.
“This will complement Defence’s investment in secure and resilient satellite communications to support our soldiers, sailors and aviators on operations at home and abroad,” Conroy remarked.
“Australia and our international partners will use these latest advances in command-and-control methods over the coming decades.”