Page 6 - Australian Defence Magazine May 2019

NEWS REVIEW
INDUSTRY UPDATE
First SPA Falcon 7X arrives in Canberra NIGEL PITTAWAY | MELBOURNE
THE first of three Dassault Falcon 7X air- craft for the RAAF’s Special Purpose Air- craft (SPA) fleet, serial number A56-001, touched down in Canberra on April 16 fol- lowing its delivery flight from the US.
The aircraft had flown to Dassault Falcon Jet’s delivery centre in Little Rock, Arkan- sas, on March 30 from the manufacturer’s production facility in Bordeaux, France.
The aircraft is the first of three to be oper- ated by No.34 Squadron from RAAF Fair- bairn, Canberra, and will replace a similar number of Bombardier Challenger CL604s, which have been in service since 2002.
In a media release, Defence said that the Falcon 7Xs will provide a larger passenger load (up to 14 compared with the Challenger’s maximum of nine), modern communications equipment and increased range and endurance.
“The Falcon 7X is an advanced business jet designed and manufactured by Dassault
Aviation (and) the jet has a standard crew of three (pilot, co-pilot and crew attendant) and can carry up to 14 passengers,” 34 Sqn Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Jason Pont, said.
“With a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.9 and a range of up to 11,000 km, the aircraft can fly from Canberra to anywhere in the world with only one stop. Its ability to land at almost any airfield provides notable regional and remote airfield accessibility.”
The new three-engine Falcon 7Xs will sup- plement 34 Sqn’s two existing Boeing 737-BBJ aircraft which have, until recently, been mostly used to transport senior government officials and other VIPs on the longer-haul routes throughout Australia and the rest of the world.
According to Defence, the two BBJs can carry a crew of six (pilot, co-pilot and four cabin attendants) and up to 30 passengers, over distances up to 11,390 km.
ADM understands, however, that these aircraft will now be reconfigured for re- gional SPA operations and the long-haul role will be undertaken by the seventh Air- bus KC-30A multi-role tanker transport (MRTT). This aircraft is an ex-Qantas A330-200 which is currently having a VIP interior installed in the forward cabin, prior to delivery to Australia later this year.
This aircraft will still be fitted for air to air refuelling operations and, when not re- quired for long-haul VIP tasking, will be used in this role (together with strategic air- lift missions) alongside the RAAF’s other six KC-30s in service with 33 Sqn at Amberley.
According to Defence, the SPA fleet will continue to be maintained by Northrop Grumman Australia.
ABOVE: A Falcon 7X in RAAF colours at Fairbairn in Canberra.
Babcock wins SF counter-CBRNE contract
DEFENCE has signed a $26 million five- year contract with the SA-based company Babcock as prime vendor for Counter- Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nucle- ar and Explosive (C-CBRNE) support.
A trainee takes part in Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) decontamination training at 1 Combat Engineer Regiment’s out training facility.
The C-CBRNE capability provides technologies to prevent and defeat chemi- cal, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats used against Australia’s national interests.
Babcock was selected through a world- wide open tender process. The contract will have a maximum period of 15 years.
The selection of Babcock is a key reform initiative to realise savings and efficiencies in the management of the existing com- mercially available C-CBRNE capability, and in the acquisition of new C-CBRNE capabilities, including for Project Land 3025 Phase 2 Deployable Special Opera- tions Engineer capability.
Graeme Nayler, Managing Director of Land for Babcock Australasia, believes this contract reflects a trust earned through
Babcock’s proven Defence track record. This contract adds to a run of recent Defence wins for Babcock, notably the support and sustainment program for the two LHDs at Garden Island through the Naval Ship Management (NSM) venture, and the ADF Ground Support Equipment
asset management contract.
COMING UP IN JUNE ADM MID YEAR DOMAIN UPDATE
• Land, maritime, air and joint program milestones
• Making disruption and strategy mesh
• Defenceandclimatechange
6 | May 2019 | www.australiandefence.com.au
DEFENCE
NIGEL PITTAWAY