Boeing Defence Australia has completed testing and begun handing over the High Frequency Modernisation (HFMOD) project for the Australian Defence Force.
“The purpose of the HFMOD is to provide the ADF with a secure, cost-effective information exchange capability for the command and control of deployed forces as a primary survivable system and as a parallel system to satellite communications,” said Minister for Defence Materiel and Science Greg Combet.
The troubled HFMOD project gained initial operating capability in November 2004 but enhancements to the communications system were beset by delays in 2007, forcing a project schedule rebaselining in 2009. It has for a number of years been on the government’s ‘projects of concern’ list.
“While there have been challenges in getting to this point, I am pleased to see that the Commonwealth and Boeing have been able to work together to resolve these and achieve this important milestone,” said Minister Combet.
Steve Parker, Boeing Defence Australia’s vice president and general manager for Network and Space Systems welcomed the Minister’s comments, saying “Since late 2008, Boeing has achieved every milestone on or ahead of schedule and we remain on track to complete all activities necessary to achieve project complete this month.”
