ADF lends a hand to improve communications at Kandahar Air Field

A small team of Australian Defence Force personnel have successfully contributed to a major communications project at Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan.

Three members of Australia’s Force Communication Unit, from Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, spent two weeks working alongside their United States military counterparts to reclaim 48,000 feet or 14.63 kilometres of aerial cabling.

Australian Team Leader Corporal Rachel Allan says the remediation will help improve communications inside the sprawling coalition base.

“The overhead cabling not only looked unsightly it was also at risk of damage, given the high number of vehicles and equipment that moves around this base. By removing it and placing the cables in underground communication pits, we greatly reduce the threat and increase efficiency,” she said.

Communication and information infrastructure is critical to day-to-day operations at Kandahar Air Field, which is why Australia offered specialist support when the US called for assistance. .

“This will only be a small dent in the overall project but it has strengthened the relationship between the US and Australia when it comes to the maintenance and remediation of coalition information networks,” Corporal Allan said.