Page 22 - Australian Defence Magazine Dec19-Jan20

22 DEFENCE BUSINESS PACIFIC
DECEMBER 2019 – JANUARY 2020 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
WHISKEY PROJECT STEALS THE SHOW
JULIAN KERR | SYDNEY
THE official launch (on dry land) of the much-anticipated Whiskey Project next-generation tactical watercraft revealed an 8.5 metre carbon-fibre composite craft with twin 200hp diesel outboards at the stern and a remote weapon station mounting a 7.62mm minigun at the bow.
The Whiskey Project, funded by private equity, is headed by Darren Shuback and Ryan Carmichael, formerly senior RAN clearance divers well-versed in Special Operations, with more than 40 years of RAN service between them.
Their objective is straightforward - to produce operator-fo- cused watercraft that provide optimal performance and pro- tection for those who risk their lives in tactical maritime envi- ronments and who may now be relying on equipment pushed beyond its capability.
Providing a capability to rectify current capability shortcom- ings also offers wider opportunities linked to the Future Frigate program, future Mine Warfare support vessels, Special Forces re- quirements under Project Greyfin, and ultimately, the replacement of every RHIB in the RAN with watercraft more fit for purpose.
The 8.5 metre Whiskey Alpha (an 11 metre Whiskey Bravo is under development and 6 metre and 7.5 metre craft are also in design) features a planing hull that cuts by 40 per cent the debilitating slamming experienced by a comparable RHIB.
The hull’s advanced carbon fibre composite construction – more than 100 times stronger than steel – includes a collision bulkhead and provides increased displacement and a payload of nearly 2,000 kg. Power is agnostic – either outboard, in- board stern drive or an inboard waterjet, backed by a fuel ca- pacity of 650 litres.
In addition to its official launch by Defence Industry Minis- ter Melissa Price, strong RAN interest in the Whiskey Project was confirmed by the large number of senior officers inspect- ing Whisky Alpha. ■
LEFT: The Whiskey Alpha was launched at Pacific 2019 to much fanfare.
BMT TO OFFER THE CAIMEN 90 FOR LAND 8710
KATHERINE ZIESING | SYDNEY
BMT took the chance at Pacific to announced that they have bid the Caimen 90 Landing Craft vessel for the Land 8710 program.
The Caimen 90 was designed by BMT and is able to operate at high speeds with heavy payloads, allowing fast- er amphibious offload from a host ship compared with slower, more conventional landing craft.
“BMT is offered world leading capability in landing craft vessels to the Australian Army with the Caimen 90,” BMT Defence and Security Managing Director, Peter Behrendt said. “A variant of this vessel is already being built internationally, which shows it is a proven hull form and design. The Caimen 90 represents a significant im- provement on speed performance from previous landing craft vessels and is capable of traveling at up to 30 knots.
“Additionally, features such as a tri-bow aluminum monohull and a bow and stern ramp, will allow for roll-on, roll-off capability, a key requirement for a modern landing craft,” Behrendt said.
Land 8710 Phase One is the program to replace the Australian Army’s Mark 8 Landing Craft. ■