Hon RON MARK (Minister of Defence): On Tuesday, I announced that Defence has signed a contract to replace the Defence Force 1980s - era fixed high frequency radio capability with modern equipment. High frequency radio provides reliable communications coverage, including into some of the most remote regions on the planet where New Zealand is operating, from deep in the Southern Ocean to the vastness of the Pacific. High frequency communications acts as a backup to satellite communications and would also boost national resilience by helping emergency services maintain communications during a crisis, increase resilience against malicious cyber-attacks, and that project will be delivered by Babcock New Zealand. It has a capital budget of $26.6 million and is expected to be fully operational in August 2023.