Page 10 - Australian Defence Magazine June 2019

NEWS REVIEW
INDUSTRY UPDATE
RAAF expands
Wideband
SATCOM on
Hercules fleet
NIGEL PITTAWAY | MELBOURNE
DEFENCE has announced that it will fit Honeywell’s JetWave Ka-band Satellite Communications (SATCOM) system to an additional five Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Hercules airlifters of No.37 Squadron.
The RAAF’s Air Mobility Group (AMG) is seeking to incrementally increase the con- nectivity of the Hercules fleet under the ae- gis of Plan Jericho.
On completion the program will deliver a Wideband SATCOM capability to half of the RAAF’s fleet, following the modification of a single aircraft for trials in 2017. The initial aircraft, A97-449, known within Air Force as the ‘Jericho Demonstrator’ is also being used to trial underwing fuel tanks and, if approval is forthcoming, it will also be the test-bed for the integration of the Northrop Grumman AAQ-24(v) Litening Targeting Pod.
The first of the five aircraft will begin modification in late 2019 during a sched- uled heavy maintenance layup at RAAF Base Richmond conducted by Airbus Aus-
tralia Pacific. All five aircraft will be com- pleted by 2022.
The RAAF Hercules fleet has been equipped with an L-band SATCOM sys- tem since 2015, but the older system is not capable of supporting high definition video or the levels of data transfer demanded by the modern battlespace.
Commander AMG, Air Commodore Bill Kourelakos, said the wideband system allows for streaming of high-definition video as well as supporting complex mission planning whilst the aircraft is in flight.
“Already, we’ve demonstrated the utility of this system on one Hercules, streaming video from missions in the Pacific and al- lowing basic Command and Control func- tions to be carried out from the aircraft,” AIRCDRE Kourelakos said. “Crews and passengers can undertake complex mis- sion planning en-route to their destination, stream video of their mission back to head- quarters, or receive it form another node.
The first of the five aircraft will begin modification in late 2019.
“There’s significant potential for the Her- cules to serve as a tactical command and control platform, combining its range and loiter (capability) with its ability to airdrop or operate from austere airstrips.”
AIRCDRE Kourelakos said the Honey- well Ka-Band system will complement cur- rent satellite transfer rates and enable com- munications across a broader spectrum of flight conditions.
The RAAF is the first air force to use the Honeywell Ka-band SATCOM system on the C-130J. Army’s Ground Liaison Officer with 37 Sqn, Captain Ian Carter, said the connectivity delivered by the Ka-band sys- tem will enhance embarked forces’ access to timely data.
“The RAAF is interested in understand- ing the interoperability implications this system could have for Forces and Special Operations Command units, whether it be used for deploying forces or sustaining them on operations,” CAPT Carter said.
First artillery shell order confirmed for Maryborough
Soldiers from 107 Battery, Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery at Shoalwater Bay Training Area.
RHEINMETALL has received its first order for artillery shells from the Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions (RNM) Forging Plant in Maryborough, Queensland, by Germany.
Earlier RWM announced a five-year $173 million contract for the supply of 32,000 rounds to the German Defence Forces. The framework of the contract allows for an op- tion of a further 11,000 rounds worth $58 million. Visiting the Maryborough site this month, Werner Kraemer, CEO Rhe- inmetall Waffe Munition and Chairman of RNM, announced that the shells for the order will be supplied from the soon to be constructed RNM Maryborough factory.
“Australia is, for us, one of the three major
export markets we’ve looked at,” Kraemer said. “We get huge support from the govern- ment side, not only in supporting the invest- ment, but also going for the export business.”
“We want to create a sustainable sovereign munitions manufacturing capability here in Australia and this first order for the Mary- borough Forging Plant, being for export to the German Defence forces really underpins this vision,” Robert Nioa, Managing Direc- tor of NIOA and Director of RNM, said.
Construction of the $60 million mu- nitions forging facility in the regional Queensland city of Maryborough is expect- ed to commence in the second half of 2019 and be fully operational by 2022.
10 | June 2019 | www.australiandefence.com.au
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