Aussie antennas saving lives in Afghanistan

East Gippsland company ZCG has received a significant contract to supply high-end antennas for the Australian Department of Defence as part of technology designed to keep troops safe from explosions in the field.

The advanced troop protection system, designed by the Defence Science and Technology Group and manufactured by L3 Micreo in Brisbane, includes custom-made antennas, designed, tested and manufactured at ZCG’s Lindenow head office.

The locally made antennas are a critical component of the suite of robust troop-protection devices specifically designed for the Afghanistan National Defence and Security Forces, for use by troops on foot and mounted in light vehicles.

“The ZCG technical team spent six months last year working with our partners in Defence to develop antennas for devices that block radiofrequency transmission so enemy combatants can’t remotely trigger improvised explosive devices (IEDs),” ZCG Managing Director Garry Kelly said.

“Our antennas play an important role in keeping troops safe from IEDs in conflict zones around the world.”

This is the second time the company has worked with Defence and L3 Micreo on this project, known as REDWING.

“Over the past two years, we have supplied more than 150,000 antennas, on time and on budget, for the first version of this technology,” Kelly said.

“But this contract takes our business to a whole new level. As a small rural enterprise, we had to step up and increase our capability so we were eligible to win larger, more complex defence contracts.”

The REDWING suite of counter-IED devices, developed by DST Group, won the Public Sector Innovation Award in 2016. Dept of Defence image by Lauren Larking.

Kelly said ZCG has worked hard to improve its systems to ensure it meets the minimum criteria for engaging with major defence players.

It renovated and restructured its Lindenow head office and completed a lean manufacturing and continuous improvement program run by Melbourne consultants OPTIM Improvement and co-funded by East Gippsland Shire Council.

The program helps local businesses to structure and operate their workplaces to be more competitive in domestic and export markets.

The Australian Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans Affairs and Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said it was a great achievement for regional businesses, such as ZCG, to win significant national contracts.

ZCG offers off-the-shelf and customised solutions to customers around the world, such as vehicle-mounted antennas, marine antennas, base station antennas for police and emergency towers, and custom-designed broadcast antennas that enable radio and TV broadcasters to deliver high-quality, targeted signals. Autonomous haul trucks in the mining industry also rely on its products.

ZCG has earned certification for the ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Management Standard, which means the company is operating at an internationally recognised standard. It also is now qualified for the ISO 14001: 2015 Environmental Management Standard and AS/NZS 4801:2001 Health and Safety Management Standard.

“ZCG is proud to be supplying life-saving antenna solutions for domestic international troops in conflict zones around the world and will continue our dedication to supplying high-quality antennas for the defence force, emergency services and other ongoing projects,” said Kelly.

Main image by SGT Ray Vance, courtesy Dept of Defence.

Please follow us and share on Twitter and Facebook. You can also subscribe for FREE to our weekly newsletter and bimonthly magazine.