MUMBAI: Broadcasting systems and surveillance system manufacturing company Hitachi Kokusai Electric Turkey Systems has announced the delivery and commissioning of a new satellite news gathering (SNG) transmission uplink vehicle to Jordanian state broadcaster, Jordan Radio and Television (JRTV).

The broadcaster is known as a regional pioneer in satellite news gathering operations and this new SNG transmission vehicle will add further state-of-the-art production resources to its extensive field-based news team. Throughout this project, Hitachi Kokusai worked closely with its local partner, Amman-based HEAT for Engineering and Technology.

Designed and built at Hitachi Kokusai design and manufacturing centre in Istanbul, the vehicle is a bespoke solution, designed to meet the exact SNG transmission needs of JRTV. Based on the Mercedes Sprinter van, the OB vehicle integrates a PDA 150 Ku Band Drive News antenna and 1:1 400W Ku Band TWTA and MPEG-2/4 HD compression system and a built-in automatic levelling system.

Also, the vehicle includes a high-power air conditioning system, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system and a power generator, ensuring reliable standalone operation even in the most extreme Jordanian climate conditions.

HEAT for Engineering and Technology founder and CEO Omar Hikmat said, “In order to support JRTV’s field-based production teams, we had a specific set of requirements from this vehicle. Hitachi’s ability to take a standard Mercedes vehicle and create a totally bespoke solution to our customer’s needs is impressive. It passed all JRTV's acceptance tests with ease and already it is fully operational."

The sale of this vehicle to JRTV is seen as being strategically important to Hitachi Kokusai since JRTV is regarded as one of the leading regional broadcasters in terms of their application of new technologies.