Boeing receives AUS$15.5m MHFCS support services contract

Boeing on March 11 received a $15.5 million Support Services Contract (SSC) from the Commonwealth of Australia for the Modernised High Frequency Communications System (MHFCS).

Under the SSC, Boeing will sustain and upgrade the operational capability of MHFCS, which the company also developed. The system is used to securely exchange information within the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for the command and control of deployed forces.

"SSC will provide the Australian Department of Defence with the specialized engineering support it needs to maintain this strategically important communications asset," said Michael Aylward, head of the Electronic Systems Division for the Commonwealth of Australia's Defence Material Organisation.

"SSC is a huge vote of confidence from the Commonwealth in Boeing's ability to ensure MHFCS remains at the cutting edge of high frequency (HF) communications technology," said Mike Scott, general manager of Network & Space Systems for Boeing Defence Australia. "We've worked very closely with the Commonwealth to ensure SSC will deliver maximum value and the most effective support to the ADF."

Boeing received "project complete" status from the Commonwealth for MHFCS on June 16, 2010. The company delivered the system in two phases, identified as the core system and the final system.

The core system, delivered in 2004, replaced three aging HF communications systems used by the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), with a single integrated system consisting of four HF radio stations and two purpose-built control centers.

The final system, which was introduced into ADF service on Sept. 24, 2009, provided greater levels of automation, performance and capability for ADF users, a back-up network management facility at Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory, and Generic Mobile Upgrade Systems for land-and-sea and air platforms.

Boeing Defence Australia's Network & Space Systems division provides a range of command and control, managed network communications, engineering services and cyber and information solutions, including MHFCS and Vigilare, the RAAF's ground-based air defense system.

Source: Boeing

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