PNG Defence Force gets 32 HF Barrett Radios

The PNG Defence Force yesterday took delivery of 32 new communication radios worth about K800,000 for election security operations.

Defence Secretary Fred Punangi received these state-of-the art HF Barret radios from TE PNG general Manager Peter Wilson at the Murray Barracks in Port Moresby.

Mr Punangi said the radios were timely as their troops had already been deployed last weekend to the Highlands region without radios. "The radios will be hooked up to the existing system to monitor the elections".

Mr Punangi said it would need K4 million to get new radios as the current ones in stock had been used during the Bougainville crisis and were now out of date.

Meanwhile, Mr Wilson said they were happy to work with the PNGDF. "These radios have many communication functions and can be used after the election for normal military operation," he said.

Acting PNGDF chief of staff captain Max Alele, PNGDF communication director Lt Col Dick Kandapaki and other senior officers attended the event. Article extracted from National Newspaper Wed June 20.

Link to The National newspaper article