Page 10 - Australian Defence Magazine May 2019

NEWS REVIEW
INDUSTRY UPDATE
ADF’s new air defences
A concept image of the Raytheon/ Kongsberg NASAMS.
case. We do not want to waste industry’s time and money with a stalking horse com- petition when the answer for Australia’s re- quirements was clear.”
The first stage of the project then saw ini- tial studies conducted with CEA Technolo- gies on potential phased array radar con- figurations, followed by a contract signed to develop a tactical radar (CEATAC) and a larger cueing radar (CEAOPS).
“The CEA radar that has been so success- ful on our ships will now be integrated into an Australian designed and built vehicle, the Thales Hawkei,” Minister Pyne confirmed.
“I’m delighted to announce that one of Australia’s most innovative technologies will be used to further enhance the effec- tiveness of NASAMS and contribute to one of the world’s best short-range ground based air defence systems.”
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) is set for 2022-23 and Full Operational Ca- pability (FOC) for 2025-26, meaning Land 19 Phase 7B is likely to be the first new or upgraded element in the broader-ranging Project Air 6500.
Minister for Defence Industry Senator Linda Reynolds said Australian industry will play a vital role in the $2.5 billion proj- ect to buy and sustain the short-range air defence capability, which will replace the Army’s current ageing RBS-70 man-porta- ble air defence system.
pass Gate 2 milestone
THE ADF’s new air defence system has passed Gate 2 approval and is now set to be acquired under Land 19 Phase 7B.
The Raytheon/Kongsberg NASAMS (National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System) is fielded by seven nations, includ- ing the US, and provides ground-based air defence against fixed wing aircraft, helicop- ters, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial systems using the Raytheon AIM-120 AM- RAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to- Air Missile).
The system will eventually become the inner tier of Australia’s integrated air and missile defence capability.
“This new air defence capability com-
bines world leading Australian radar tech- nology with a highly effective air defence system that will contribute to the protec- tion of our service men and women from modern airborne threats,” Minister for De- fence Christopher Pyne said.
The initial single supplier limited request for tender (RFT) to Raytheon in 2017 ini- tially caused much consternation amongst industry as one of the first examples of the Smart Buyer framework.
“We went through an exhaustive process, drawing on both RFI material and our own research to come to this conclusion,” then- Deputy Secretary of CASG Kim Gillis told ADM at the time. “It just made sense in this
Airbus wins Tiger support contract extension
THE government has announced an extension to Airbus Austra- lia Pacific’s through-life support (TLS) contract for the Austra- lian Army’s Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH).
Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne said the extension of the current support arrangements for the Tiger provided long- term certainty for defence industry employees.
“With an anticipated value of up to $790 million, this contract will see the continued employment of 60 staff in Darwin who provide maintenance and logistics support services at Army’s 1st Aviation Regiment,” Minister Pyne said.
The investment will see the retention of 70 staff at the Army Aviation Training Centre in Oakey, Queensland, along with a further 130 skilled staff at Brisbane airport who provide com- mercial, engineering and logistics services.
“As part of this arrangement there is a provision for Airbus to provide long term labour to support the continued capability of Army aviation platforms across Australia,” Minister for Defence Industry Senator Linda Reynolds said.
An ARH Tiger helicopter from the 1 Aviation Regiment, Australian Army comes into land at RAAF Base Darwin.
10 | May 2019 | www.australiandefence.com.au
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