Rohde & Schwarz Teams With Babcock Australasia Down Under

Rohde & Schwarz was selected by Babcock Australasia to provide high frequency (HF) radios and high power amplifiers with HF wideband capability for the New Zealand Defence Force.

Rohde & Schwarz today announced a collaboration with Babcock Australasia to support the Fixed High Frequency Radio Refresh (FHFRR) project recently awarded to Babcock by the New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MoD). As a subcontractor, Rohde & Schwarz will provide R&S M3SR Series4100 high frequency (HF) radios, high power amplifiers (5 kW and 10 kW) and spares for the program.

Babcock Australasia will be replacing the New Zealand Defence Force’s fixed HF radio capability, which is expected to be fully operational by August 2023. The company is additionally tendering for the Australian Defence Force's (ADF) Enhanced Defence High Frequency Communications System (EDHFCS) program, again partnering with Rohde & Schwarz.

“We are pleased to collaborate with Rohde & Schwarz and leverage their organizational and technological capabilities to help meet our customer’s very unique requirements,” stated David Ruff, CEO of Babcock Australasia. “We look forward to bringing this critical communications solution to New Zealand and beyond.”

“Rohde & Schwarz welcomes this contract in New Zealand, having a longstanding history in HF communications,” comments Hansjörg Herrbold, Vice President Market Segment Navy Rohde & Schwarz. “Since HF wideband technology drives the need for high power systems, the company is now offering 5 kW and 10 kW amplifiers backed by decades of experience in the transmitter business. We will fully support Babcock Australasia in implementing and operating this modern communications solution.”

R&S M3SR Series4100 HF radios belong to the SOVERON radio family. They are innovative, versatile software defined radios (SDR) that include HF wideband functionality. This powerful radio platform can be extended at any time and is a safe, future-ready investment. Rohde & Schwarz amplifier systems are extremely well engineered, are manufactured in an award-winning factory and feature field-proven reliability that is unique.

Currently, Rohde & Schwarz is investing considerably in HF wideband technology, supporting its worldwide customers in the transition to next generation beyond line of sight (BLOS) communications systems.

Rohde & Schwarz has been operating successfully in the Australian and New Zealand region for nearly 40 years. The Australian subsidiary has a comprehensive integration and through-life support capability in Sydney that currently services defense communications contracts and air-traffic control communications contracts in both New Zealand and Australia.

About Rohde & Schwarz
Rohde & Schwarz is a leading supplier of solutions in the fields of test and measurement, broadcast and media, aerospace | defense | security and networks and cybersecurity. The technology group's innovative communications, information and security products help industry and government customers ensure a safer and connected world. On June 30, 2019, Rohde & Schwarz had about 12,100 employees. The independent group achieved a net revenue of EUR 2.14 billion in the 2018/2019 fiscal year (July to June). The company is headquartered in Munich, Germany, and has subsidiaries in more than 70 countries, with regional hubs in Asia and America.