NZ Defence Force deploys high capacity, resilient Tornado radios for voice communications
A nationwide analogue to digital upgrade of the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF) voice communication links has provided a large boost to network throughput, supporting a greater number of dedicated voice channels.
While initiation of the project began eight years ago, disruption throughout the pandemic years meant the NZDF were only finally able to start deploying MimoLink™ Tornado radios from Ubiik from 2022. NZDF’s Waiouru site was chosen as a trial location, other NZDF sites across New Zealand followed, and the final site was completed in 2024.
Providing high-capacity voice backhaul links at NZDF camps and bases, the links are used for unclassified (unrestricted) voice communications for range safety, emergency services, security guard, and general non-encrypted base communications. The priority traffic at each location is range control (i.e. ensuring firing stops to maintain personnel safety) with each range now having its own dedicated channel.
“With our old analogue system, our personnel had to share channels which wasn’t ideal,” says Dennis Judd, High Frequency Platform Owner, Information Command at NZDF. “The upgraded system has provided greater network capacity which means our teams can have their own dedicated channel for voice communications, while also making room for nationwide channels for New Zealand’s Civil Defence service.”
Given the remote locations of some of the NZDF’s sites, terrain and climate challenges were considered during the RF design phase. Two of the NZDF sites are in the mountainous central regions of both the North and South Islands, which means snow and ice are a regular winter feature and the links needed to be designed to cope with environment. During deployment in July 2023, for example, the temperature was -8° C (17° F) in the South Island location.
In addition to the requirement for rugged equipment, another key consideration was power draw. While most of the NZDF locations are mains-powered sites with battery backup, some are solar-powered and therefore the lower power consumption of the Tornado radios was a key aspect of their selection.
“I don’t believe we have had a single failure of the Tornado radios, to date,” says Judd. “The system upgrade has been very well received and the benefit of having extra channels has increased the number of users, helping our camps and bases to operate smoothly.”
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