Page 12 - Australian Defence Magazine May-June 2020

12 NEWS REVIEW INDUSTRY UPDATE
MAY/JUNE 2020 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
DEFENCE EXTENDS SERCO MEDICAL AND DENTAL LOGISTICS CONTRACT
ABOVE: Air Commodore Angie Castner, Director General Supply Chain, Joint Logistics Command signing the contract extension at Victoria Barracks in Melbourne.
DEFENCE has exercised a two-year exten- sion of the Medical & Dental Logistics Support Service Contract with Serco.
Serco Australia has provided dedicated medical and dental logistics support, with specialist medical kitting and manage- ment of maintenance services to Defence, as their primary partner for this key capa- bility, for 20 years.
Currently operating alongside the ADF at Joint Logistics Unit (East) Moore- bank, NSW, Serco supports all ADF joint operations, peace-keeping missions, hu- manitarian and disaster relief operations, as well as peace-time training exercises and activities.
Serco Defence Managing Director, Clint
Thomas, said this extension further strength- ens Serco’s partnership with the ADF.
“We are extremely proud of our strong, long-standing partnership with the ADF, which leverages a range of capabilities, in- cluding maritime operations, engineering and logistics support, asset management, facilities management, medical and dental logistics, equipment and weapons mainte- nance and repair, specialist training and technical services,” Thomas said.
“This extension allows Serco to continue supporting the ADF medical and dental capability to deliver consistently high qual- ity service, innovation and efficiencies.”
The contract is valued at $12 million for the two years.
RAAF AND INDUSTRY COMPLETE FIRST AUSTRALIAN F-35A ENGINE REMOVAL
TECHNICAL maintenance crews have removed an engine from an F-35A Lightning II aircraft with a purpose-built trailer in a purpose-built facility.
The crews from No. 3 Squadron, No. 2 Operational Con- version Unit, BAE Systems Australia and Lockheed Martin conducted the works at RAAF Base Williamtown.
No. 3 Squadron Senior Engineering Officer Squadron Leader Leigh Tinker said it was an exciting day for technicians when the first removal of an F-35A engine was carried out by an Australian unit.
“We had a mix of personnel on the job including 3SQN, 2OCU, BAE, Lockheed Martin and Marand,” SQLDR Tinker said. “The learnings from the day were an important part of maximising train- ing opportunities and forging Defence/Industry collaboration.”
Marand Engineering Manager Jeff Brown ensured the trailer operated as per the design requirements during the removal process.
SQLDR Tinker said Brown’s support had been invaluable for training technical and maintenance crews.
RIGHT: Personnel from No. 3 Squadron, No.
2 Operational Conversion Unit and BAE systems Australia removing the engine.
VICTORIA MUNITIONS
PLANT TO SUPPLY US F-35S
RHEINMETALL NIOA Munitions (RNM) is set to produce and export ammunition for the US F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. RNM has announced that it will begin production of 25mm Frangible Ar- moured Piercing (FAP) projectiles at the federal government-owned Benalla plant in Victoria.
The deal marks the first expansion of the RNM joint venture be- yond its $60 million artillery shell forging plant in Maryborough, Queensland. The new Load Assemble Pack (LAP) line at Benalla will be capable of producing 20mm to 35mm medium-calibre ammuni- tion. RNM aims to serve as a secondary source supplier to the US government for the F-35 JSF program.
Werner Kraemer, chairman of the board of directors at RNM, said that with the Maryborough project on track, it was time to expand the footprint and capabilities of the joint venture company in Australia.
“By committing to develop this medium-calibre production capa- bility here in Australia, we will not only create local jobs and build a supply chain, we will also be developing a proven and sustainable export market,” Kraemer said.
The line is scheduled to be installed in the first half of 2021 and be at full production by September that year.
CORPORAL CRAIG BARRETT/DEFENCE
USAF
SERCO