Page 6 - Australian Defence Magazine Feb-Mar 21

6 NEWS REVIEW INDUSTRY UPDATE
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2021 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
APACHE CHOSEN AS ARMED HELICOPTER REPLACEMENT
DEFENCE has selected the Boeing Apache Guardian to replace Army’s Armed Recon- naissance Helicopter (ARH) from 2025 under Land 4503.
Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said the AH-64E Apache Guardian is equipped with improved sensors, commu- nications suites, attack capabilities and improved survivability.
“This new ARH capability will strengthen Australia’s armed reconnaissance force to better shape our strategic environment and deter actions against our national interest,” Minister Reynolds said. “Defence consid- ered a number of helicopters against key criteria of proven ability, maturity and an off-the-shelf operating system.
“The Apache Guardian is the most le- thal, most survivable and lowest risk op- tion, meeting all of Defence’s capability, through-life support, security, and certifi- cation requirements. By pursuing a proven and low-risk system offered by the Apache,
Defence will avoid the ongoing cost and sched- ule risk typically associ- ated with developmental platforms.”
In a statement, De-
fence said: “Lessons
learnt from issues with
the ARH Tiger and oth-
er rotary wing projects had informed the strategy to seek a proven, mature ARH replacement capability.”
“The project will deliver on the Gov- ernment’s vision to maximise Australian industry involvement in defence capabil- ity,” Minister Reynolds said. “There are potential opportunities for Australian industry in logistic support, warehous- ing services, training development, en- gineering services, and maintenance, repair and overhaul.
“Maximising these opportunities for Australian businesses will enable the fu-
AUS AND US SIGN CYBER RANGE DEAL
ABOVE: Boeing’s AH-64E Apache attack helicopter for Defence’s Land 4503 program.
ture growth of our local rotary wing in- dustry and will present opportunities for Australian industry involvement in the aircraft’s global supply chain.”
“Detailed transition planning will be con- ducted to ensure effective management of the skilled workforce, across Defence and industry, as Defence transitions the Tiger to the Apache,” the Defence statement said.
The Apache was selected over a Bell/ BAE Systems Australia teaming arrange- ment (offering the Bell AH-1Z Viper) and an Airbus offer of an upgrade to the in- cumbent Tiger platform.
THE US and Australia have launched their first agreement to continuously develop a virtual cyber training range.
Both nations signed the Cyber Training Capabilities Project Arrangement on No- vember 3, which enables US Cyber Com- mand to incorporate ADF feedback into their simulated training domain, the Per- sistent Cyber Training Environment.
Raytheon’s PCTE is a cyber training
LEFT: MAJGEN Marcus Thompson signs a cyber training agreement between the US and Australia.
platform for real-world defen- sive missions across boundar- ies and networks. A shared use and development model means it evolves to sharpen readiness in cyber tactics, techniques and procedures.
“This project arrangement is a mile- stone for US-Australian cooperation. It is the first cyber-only arrangement estab- lished between the US Army and an al- lied nation, which highlights the value of Australia’s partnership in the simulated training domain,” Elizabeth Wilson, the US signatory and deputy assistant secre- tary of the Army for defence exports and cooperation, said.
Previously, nations’ cyber forces devel- oped cyber training ranges for specific sce- narios that would be used once, a process that could take months. The PCTE is a col- laborative training environment, enabling cyber forces around the world to develop and reuse already existing content to train at individual and group levels anytime.
“Australia and the US have a strong his- tory of working together to develop our cyber capabilities and train our people to fight and win in cyberspace,” MAJGEN Marcus Thompson, Head of Information Warfare, said.
COMING UP NEXT ISSUE
■ Multiservicemissileupdate
■ ADMCongresshighlights
■ What’s happening with Air 6500? ■ Defencecyberplan
SGT SEBASTIAN BEURICH
BOEING