Page 62 - Australian Defence Mag Sep 2020

62 SUSTAINMENT AIR
SEPTEMBER 2020 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
HOW TO KEEP THE RAAF IN THE AIR
How the RAAF sustains its various aircraft fleets largely depends upon
the acquisition methodology of each platform, of which there are broadly three major types.
NIGEL PITTAWAY | MELBOURNE
WHILE the majority of Air Force platforms have been acquired via the US Government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process, reflecting the close relationship Australia has with the US as its largest arms supplier, there are several other means of acquiring capability.
These range from the acquisition of platforms and weap- ons under the FMS process and more recently Co-operative Programs with the US Government and prime contractors (for example Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II, Boeing P-8A Poseidon and Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton), through to Direct Commercial Sales (DCS - Airbus KC-30A, BAE Systems Hawk Mk.127 and Boeing E-7A Wedgetail).
Each of these acquisition strategies have implications for how each platform or weapons is supported and sustained throughout its operational life and each has its advantages, disadvantages and, to varying degrees, risks associated.
There are also external factors, such as the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITARs), which dictates which sys- tems or components must be either returned to the US for repair or overhaul or maintained in-country by an expatriate workforce.
To learn more about the pros and cons of each acquisi- tion strategy and how it affects sustainment, ADM recently spoke with Director General Aerospace Combat Systems, Air Commodore Gerry van Leeuwen.