Page 14 - Australian Defence Magazine April-May 2021

14 NEWS REVIEW INDUSTRY UPDATE
APRIL-MAY 2021 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
THREE MORE LOYAL WINGMEN PLANNED
THE Australian government and Boeing Australia will co-develop a further three Loyal Wingman aircraft to advance the air-teaming vehicle, payloads and associ- ated support and training capabilities.
The agreement will increase the air- craft’s production capability to six aircraft for the RAAF and is valued at $115 million over three years.
The Loyal Wingman is the first military
LEFT: The Loyal Wingman took flight for the first time recently.
combat aircraft to be designed, engineered and manufactured in Australia in more than 50 years.
“The Australian government’s contin- ued investment in the innovative Loyal Wingman program will create jobs and op- portunities for over 35 Australian suppli- ers and small businesses, including BAE Systems Australia, RUAG Australia, AME Systems and Ferra Engineering,” Brendan
Nelson, president of Boeing Australia, NZ & South Pacific, said.
The contract will support the matura- tion of the aircraft design, evolution of current and future payloads, and create the sustainment system for the aircraft in operations. It will also advance Air- power Teaming System advanced con- cepts through digital testing and dem- onstration.
“In addition to progressing the air vehi- cle design and support system, we will fur- ther develop the aircraft’s mission system including advanced AI decision-making capabilities and new payloads,” Dr Shane Arnott, program director of the Boeing Airpower Teaming System, said. “Contin- ued digital engineering and significantly expanded live testing of the system will provide RAAF and Boeing with the abil- ity to jointly take the concept to the next level, activities that are critical for us to rapidly understand how the Airpower Teaming System can be employed in the future battlespace.”
“I am thrilled that TAFE Queensland has been awarded this significant contract which will bring economic benefits to the region,” Entsch said. “Cairns is ideally lo- cated to mount and sustain maritime pa- trol and hydrographic operations, and the base is well served by the local Cairns ship repair industry.”
Under the Pacific Maritime Security Program, Australia is replacing the ex- isting Pacific Patrol Boats with 21 new Guardian-class Patrol Boats to 12 Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste to enhance regional maritime capability and capacity.
TAFE QUEENSLAND TO TRAIN GUARDIAN CLASS CREWS
THE government has awarded TAFE Queensland a $36 million contract to provide mariner training and support to the Navy crews of the Guardian-class Pa- trol Boats.
The funding is being delivered as part of the $2 billion Pacific Maritime Security Program.
The Acting Minister for Defence, Sena- tor Marise Payne, said the Pacific Mari- time Security Program training contract was designed to adapt and adjust, to meet the needs of Pacific partners.
“A modern and innovative training ap- proach offered by TAFE Queensland will have significant strategic benefits in the Pacific,” Minister Payne said. “TAFE Queensland has already established im- portant relationships and arrangements with the Commonwealth and Pacific Is- land country governments, industries and communities.
“This, coupled with their established in- frastructure in Australia and experience in delivering services in the Pacific, will en- able TAFE Queensland to help achieve the outcomes of the Pacific Step-Up Program and the Pacific Maritime Security Program.
“This contract builds upon the suc- cess of the previous Pacific Patrol Boat training services contract, by
providing new contemporary
training for the Guardian- class Patrol Boat crew.”
Attending the contract sign- ing in Cairns, Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch welcomed the announcement.
RIGHT: The crew of a Tongan Guardian-class patrol boat prepare to march onboard after the ship was officially handed over.
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