Page 69 - Australian Defence Mag Sep 2020

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system is going through a transformation to the newer Operational Data Integrated Network (ODIN) system that is designed with an open architecture and is therefore more flexible and that is also something Australia has helped to influence since we’ve been in the F-35 program.”
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A current example of a DCS acquisition program undertaken by the RAAF has been the incremental purchase of the Airbus KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Trans- port (MRTT), a derivative of the of the successful A330-200 airliner, but modi- fied for the MRTT role by Airbus Defence and Space. Although Airbus DS supports the KC-30A as the OEM, the capability is supported in-country by Northrop Grum- man Australia.
“One of the advantages of DCS acquisi- tions like the KC-30A is more open com- petition, which means opportunities for Australian industry involvement and our ability to influence timing and, to some degree, the cost and priority of trade-off decisions, because we have a direct cus- tomer relationship with the OEM. In the FMS and Co-operative space, require- ments are considered in concert with other partners or priorities,” AIRCDRE van Leeuwen said.
“With DCS we have a greater influence on the capability development path but a drawback, in some cases, is the cost profile may be higher than FMS due to economies of scale. We also may attract greater overheads, in terms of manage- ment of some sustainment and commer- cial aspects. DCS can generate more complex contracting arrangements, given the need to make sure you have every- thing right rather than rely on an estab- lished (FMS) process.”
Overall, whichever acquisition method- ology is selected, AIRCDRE van Leeuwen says Defence has done a lot of work on its sovereign industrial capability priorities and the industrial plan which supports them.
“Deeper maintenance is an area we are focusing on, there is a real push in Defence to make sure Australian industry are able to better support our sovereign aerospace outcomes,” he said. ■
LEFT: Flight Lieutenant Mitchell Brown,
Instructor at 292 Squadron, conducts checks on the P-8A Poseidon simulator at RAAF Base Edinburgh.
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