Page 31 - Australian Defence Magazine Dec19-Jan20

DECEMBER 2019 – JANUARY 2020 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
DEFENCE BUSINESS PACIFIC 31
EWEN LEVICK | SYDNEY
DEWC, a South Australian SME specialising in electronic warfare (EW), was one of the many exhibitors showcasing at their state’s stand at Pacific 2019.
The company provides EW consulting (DEWC Services), research and prototyping (DEWC Systems) and EW training and education (DEWC T&E).
Much of what the company’s research and prototyping arm does is classified given the nature of the work. Yet DEWC Systems has made headlines for its Miniaturised Orbital Electronic Warfare Sensor System (MOESS) proj- ect, run in partnership with DST Group, Flinders Univer- sity, University of Adelaide and University of SA.
MOESS, which has previously won funding through the De- fence Innovation Partnership’s Collaborative Research Funds program, is a reprogrammable multi-purpose EW sensor sys- tem designed to integrate onto small satellites. The system is in- tended to deploy on a cubesat constellation in polar Low Earth Orbit to provide worldwide coverage. Its ‘reprogrammable’ na- ture means the sensors can adapt to future requirements.
DST Group is conducting research into orbit designs for
MOESS that can retain stability between the various orbital planes within the constellation, so that all the satellites’ or- bits decay at the same rate – an achievement that, if realised, would prolong the life of the whole system.
DEWC Systems has supported CASG, Navy, Air Force, Army and the DST Group in the delivery and sustainment of such capabilities as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the RAN’s MH-60R helicopter, the RAAF AEWC, Army Counter IED and Airborne Countermeasures Development and Validation.
DEWC recently partnered with Southern Launch, an out- fit looking to build a spaceport at Whaler’s on SA’s Eyre Pen- insula by the end of 2020, to provide launch services for their constellation. If the schedule is met, DEWC could be testing the first Australian designed, launched and operated military satellite system by 2022.
Outside of the MOESS project, DEWC launched the School of Information Operations (SOIO) shortly before the tradeshow. SOIO offers short courses in information opera- tions, EW, cyber, undersea warfare and communications training in partnership with Leonardo through the Leonardo Academy in Lincoln, UK. The target audience is Defence personnel, DST, Defence public servants, Australian defence industry, academia/high education providers. ■