Babcock International Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Australian company Critical Infrastructure Technologies (CiTech), to develop a rapidly deployable hub that can house a combination of 5G communication, Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) and counter-UAS systems for the Eastern Flank and other defence and national security applications.
The MOU, signed at DSEI, will involve both parties working exclusively on opportunities to supply Eastern Europe with a system based on CiTech’s Nexus 20 platform.
The 20ft container sized product, which can be transported on a truck, will house 5G communications, counter UAS, and ISR technology. It can unload itself, adapt to sloping or uneven ground and deploy 20m cyclone rated tower.
As part of the MOU, we’ll also be working with CiTech to explore the development of a Nexus 16 assembly hub in Eastern Europe and opportunities across NATO’s Eastern Flank.
Western Australian based CiTech was one of the first companies to join our Global Supply Chain Program (GSCP) which strengthens Australian industry’s access to international defence markets by opening up new commercial pathways.
Our dedicated GSCP delivery team is strategically situated in both Australia and the UK to provide continual advocacy at a global level and identify gaps that have the potential to be filled by Australian supplier capability.
Mark Goldsack, Babcock’s Managing Director – Business Growth & AUKUS, said: “We are delighted to be signing this partnership with CiTech, where we can deliver a rapidly deployable communications, counter-UAS and ISR capability as well as develop a dedicated assembly hub to support further opportunities.”
Brenton Scott, CEO of CiTech, added: “As an Australian defence industry SME, partnering with Babcock unlocks a pathway for the Nexus 20 to be rapidly scaled across Eastern Europe. This isn’t a single deployment – it’s the beginning of a regional expansion that positions CiTECH’s Nexus 20 as a benchmark capability across NATO’s Eastern Flank.”