Disaster response — comms help recovery efforts

Australian-made radio equipment was deployed just in time for Nepal’s earthquake recovery efforts.

In January 2015, NVIS Communications, Barrett Communications’ North American system integrator, was awarded a US$1.4 million contract by the US Army Corps to provide 120 Barrett radio systems of various configurations to the Nepalese Army.

The contract was to be for both HF and VHF equipment that would be used by the Nepalese Army for disaster response and recovery, and was a gift from the US State Department to the Country of Nepal.

Barrett commercial equipment had previously been utilised by NGOs in Nepal, but this was to be the first supply of tactical equipment.   

The contract included PRC-2090 HF Tactical Manpacks, PRC-2091 HF Mobile Vehicle systems, PRC-2081 VHF Tactical Manpacks and PRC-2082 VHF Tactical Mobile Vehicle systems including accessories, plus a 10-day training program. The delivery schedule was planned for the end of April 2015, with training to be conducted with the Nepalese Army late in the northern summer of 2015.

On the day the order was due to be shipped from the Barrett Communications factory in Perth, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit Nepal, causing significant, widespread damage.

Upon hearing of the earthquake, John Rosica, president of NVIS Communications, contacted the US Army Corps to expedite the delivery into Nepal and to make arrangements to travel to Nepal to provide the training so that the equipment could be used straight away. This was coordinated with the Nepal Signals Directorate, the US embassy in Nepal and Sivendra KC, the managing director of Icchu Mati International — Barrett’s authorised dealer in Nepal.

Training began with the theory part of the program on 18 May. When the shipment arrived two days later the team was able to complete the hands-on training, including field training.

“When we were awarded the contract, we had no idea of just how relevant the award of this contract would be,” said Rosica. “We are very pleased that we could assist on the ground in Nepal and are confident the Nepalese Signals Directorate is ready to put the equipment to use immediately.”

NVIS has had lots of success supplying Barrett Communications equipment for large projects and customers, including the Nevada National Guard, the Los Angeles County Fire and Rescue Department, the Bonneville Power Authority (north-west US), Mark West Energy (US) and the US State Department.

Barrett told Critical Comms that it is continuously reviewing its technology offering to ensure it is meeting its customers’ expectations and gave the example of the Rapid Field Deployment System (RFDS), which provides a deployable, simple-to-operate and flexible HF or VHF/UHF communications system mounted in a single transit case containing radios, power, cabling, lighting and external connections.

The solution is suited to occasions where there is a requirement to establish a communications system rapidly upon arrival in an austere environment. “All you have to do is connect it to an antenna, switch it on and it works,” said Cameron Berg, Barrett’s marketing manager.