Page 63 - Australian Defence Mag Sep 2020

SEPTEMBER 2020 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
SUSTAINMENT AIR 63 LEFT: The RAAF sustains various fleets under a
number of models depending on the platform.
ever, initiatives are underway to improve opportunities for Australian industry with the COVID-19 pandemic driving the requirement to build supply chain resilience and offer redundancy for what is becoming an increasingly stressed US supply base.
And while FMS programs are generally regarded as low risk because they involve mature platforms, they are not entirely risk free. For example, the RAAF has acquired 10 Leonardo C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifters through the US FMS process, rather than directly from the Italian man- ufacturer. The reasoning behind this was the US Air Force and US Army were intending to purchase several hundred C-27Js modified to Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) configura- tion by L-3 Systems in the US. While Australia selected the JCA configuration, the US has largely divested itself of the program (a small number are in service with the USAF’s Special operations Command and US Coast Guard) and there was – and still is – a risk of Australia operating an orphan fleet. Happily, in this particular case, the US DoD has honoured the FMS acquisition process and Australia has entered into an agreement with Northrop Grumman Australia for Through Life Support (TLS).
“A great example of an FMS ac- quisition is our fleet of eight C-17As,
which we were able to rapidly bring
into service to meet our emerg-
ing strategic airlift requirements,” AIRCDRE van Leeuwen explained
to ADM. “Another example is the purchase of the 24 Super Hornets,
aimed to de-risk the air combat transition between retirement of
the F-111C and introduction of the
F-35A. These programs provided us
with mature products and typically well-known support arrangements, leveraged off being part of a larger system.”
FOREIGN MILITARY SALES
Most RAAF platforms have been purchased from the US, reflecting Australia’s close relationship with its largest ally, and this has largely meant that the capability is already ma- ture and has a well-established support process in place.
This often means the acquisition process can be rapid, for example Boeing C-17A and F/A-18F Super Hornet, not- ing the relatively small numbers of aircraft Australia typi- cally purchases are effectively part of a much larger fleet. But it can also mean opportunities for Australian compa- nies in the sustainment space, particularly small to medium enterprises (SMEs) have been traditionally limited. How-
This process can also ensure that regular upgrades, de- veloped by the US Air Force for the C-17A and US Navy in the case of the Super Hornet, can readily flow through to the RAAF’s fleets, ensuring they retain US compatibil- ity throughout their service lives. However, this can also mean that, because the host service already has a mature sustainment system in place and has long-established con- tracts with US suppliers, there may be fewer opportunities for Australian industry.
PROS AND CONS
Another disadvantage is the inability in certain cases to claim warranty, which was underscored recently by the loss of one of Australia’s 12 Growlers because of an engine man- ufacturing defect, leaving the RAAF with a reduced fleet of aircraft and no compensation in return. In that case, the engines were supplied to Boeing via the US Navy as Gov- ernment Furnished Equipment (GFE).
“WHILE FMS PROGRAMS ARE GENERALLY REGARDED AS LOW RISK BECAUSE THEY INVOLVE MATURE PLATFORMS, THEY ARE NOT ENTIRELY RISK FREE. ”
DEFENCE