Defence has selected Marconi Australia as the preferred tenderer for a $13 million contract to supply Army with 6000 soldier personal radios.

A contract was signed on 20 January 2006 for the supply of Marconi’s Personal Role Radio for Australia’s infantry.

Soldiers in the five regular infantry battalions, the school of infantry, cavalry reconnaissance scouts and the Combat Training Centre will receive the low range, intra-section communications devices.

The Marconi Personal Role Radio improves situational awareness and security for small teams.

The purchase is part of a larger equipment package that the Defence Materiel Organisation is procuring for the Army under Project Land 125.

Project Land 125 is a soldier modernisation program that provides incremental enhancements to the close combat capability. Phase two of the project involves procuring the radios and a variety of other enhanced dismounted close combat capabilities at a cost of $35 million.

These other capabilities include a thermal weapons sight for the F88 Steyr rifle to improve the surveillance and target acquisition capability of small teams; individual combat load carriage equipment, which includes an integrated modular hip to chest webbing ensemble and large field pack; enhanced combat helmet; and personal protective padding including elbow and knee pads.

The acquisition of this equipment is underway with deliveries planned to be complete by the middle of 2006.

Mr Bruce Bennie (Sales & Marketing Director Australasia, Marconi Australia Pty Ltd) and Brigadier David Welch (Director General Land Combat Systems) sign on the dotted line.