Page 37 - Australian Defence Magazine Feb-Mar 2023

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2023 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
DEFENCE BUSINESS AEGIS 37
But before a national support hub can grow into a true able to support Aegis both in Australia and in the region.
regional support organisation, US ITAR restrictions will “When we commissioned HMAS Hobart for example, 28
need to be worked first. “It’s a latent capability: Lockheed US personnel flew into Australia to commission the Aegis
has the ability to do support work around the world and we system and they were deep specialists within Aegis,” Milli-
would like to become a more integral part of that, however, gan details. “Back in 2017 we started embedding one or two
it will be primarily in the Australian space at this time,” people within those integrated test and trials personnel from
Milligan adds.
the US and the engagement that we have with our colleagues
in Moorestown [Lockheed Martin’s facility in New Jersey].
We're looking to grow Australian sovereign capabilities and
THE FUTURE OF AEGIS
replace as many of those expats that would normally fly to
A candidate capability for Lockheed Martin Austra- Australia to support specialist activities in Aegis as we reason-
lia’s Air 6500 system is the Virtualised Aegis Weapon ably can, working in concert with the RAN.”
System (VAWS) which may be considered Milligan says Lockheed Martin Australia
alongside other potential capabilities for is endeavouring to establish a regional hub
Defence’s Air 6500 (Joint Air Battle Man- capability for Aegis in Australia, similar to
agement System) program. Recent exercis- “AEGIS IS MORE THAN A
what Sikorsky is doing to support the MH-
es using the VAWS – sometimes referred to COMBAT SYSTEM, IT’S
60R helicopter at Nowra.
as ‘Aegis in a box’ – which is a small form ACTUALLY A FIGHTING
“We will have that capability because Ae-
factor of Aegis to which elements such as gis comes out of a common source library
sensors and effectors can be added, has PHILOSOPHY”
and it is very well controlled – and if you're
proven the scalable nature of a future air working on an Aegis Baseline 9 ship they
defence system.
are all broadly the same, except when you
“As we go forward, the Aegis combat sys- get to the interface cabinets and sensors and effectors,” he
tem has the flexibility to address all threats – and I think explains. “The actual core of Aegis is essentially the same,
that's the key,” adds Admiral Phil Davidson (Retd.) former so in concert with the RAN we are growing what we call an
Commander USINDOPACOM and now advisor to Lock- Aegis hub down under through continued local investment
heed Martin. “It has the capacity and the capability to in training, and form a clear strategy around making sure
move forward and deal with threats from the wave top that we support Aegis in-country with Australians.”
threat, all the way to space.” ■
DEFENCE