Page 7 - Australian Defence Magazine Dec-Jan 2021

DECEMBER 2020 – JANUARY 2021 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
NEWS REVIEW INDUSTRY UPDATE 7
FIRST INDIGENOUS SUPPLIER SIGNS ONTO HUNTER CLASS PROGRAM
ASC Shipbuilding has signed a contract with Indigenous Australian company, TQCSI- Yaran, to commence work during the prototyp- ing phase of the Hunter class frigate program.
TQCSI Yaran is a majority indigenous- owned and operated business partnered with the Indigenous Defence and Infra- structure Consortium (iDiC). The iDiC has capability in various direct and indi- rect procurement services to support large defence and infrastructure projects.
The Adelaide-based company will audit and undertake quality, safety, health and environmental systems certification.
Minster for Defence Linda Reynolds said the prototyping phase is on track to begin soon.
“This will ensure that ASC Shipbuild-
ing’s workforce are thoroughly trained in using the state of the art digital equipment in one of the world’s most advanced ship- yards at Osborne in Adelaide,” Minister Reynolds said. “This first phase is vital to the overall program.
“I am proud that BAE Systems Austra- lia’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and strategic relationship with the Indigenous Defence and Infrastructure Consortium is opening up new opportunities for Indige- nous businesses to win work and be an im- portant part of the Hunter Class program.
“Indigenous businesses who are contrib- uting to Defence programs are not only a key part of the Australian economy, but are also providing jobs and supporting the community they represent.”
“The work that Adelaide-based TQCSI- Yaran will undertake is an important step for prototyping activities and provides practical training opportunities for Austra- lian workers,” Minister for Defence Indus- try Melissa Price said. “During prototyp- ing, the processes, systems, tools, facilities and workforce competencies will be exten- sively tested and refined before construc- tion starts on the first Hunter class frigate.
“I look forward to seeing more Indigenous businesses being contracted to support the National Naval Shipbuilding Program.”
ASC Shipbuilding, the prime contractor for the Hunter class, is a subsidiary of BAE Systems Australia who have developed a Reconciliation Action Plan and a Strategic Relationship Agreement with the iDiC.
ANAO RELEASES ANNUAL MAJOR PROJECTS REPORT
JULIAN KERR | SYDNEY
FIFTEEN of the country’s 25 largest defence projects have suffered delays due to COV- ID-19 but none have reported any impact relating to capability, the Australian Na- tional Audit Office (ANAO) disclosed in its annual Major Projects report released on 30 November.
Average schedule delays of three to six months were due to supply chain disruption, workforce limitations and contractor delays. However the full impact on the 25 contracts, featuring total acquisition costs of S$78.7 billion, was still being assessed under evolv- ing pandemic circumstances overseas, the ANAO was advised by Defence.
Total schedule slippage for the 25 se- lected projects as of June 2020 was 507 months on original schedule – 144 months lower than the previous 12-month period.
The single Project of Concern remained the Airbus MRH-90 Taipan helicopter, first placed on the list in November 2011 due to contractor performance relating to significant technical issues.Service release of an enhanced cargo hook system compat- ible with ADF equipment was granted in
October 2020 while opera-
tional test and evaluation
continued on a new cabin
gun mount allowing cover-
ing fire while soldiers are
rappelling from the aircraft.
Final Operational Capabil-
ity (FOC) for the 47-aircraft
fleet is currently scheduled for December 2021, Defence stated.
As of September Australia had received 30 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters, five of them still at the International Pilot Training Centre in Arizona. Delivery of the 72nd and last is scheduled for August 2023, and Defence warned that the program “may be affected by technical deficiencies, delay in delivery schedule, funding or program is- sues, or delays in delivery of an effective training system,” the ANAO report said.
Residual activities concerning the RAAF’s C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifter remain outstanding after two failures by the 10-strong fleet to achieve FOC. This work includes fitment and certification of Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe, and
ABOVE: As of September Australia had received 30 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters.
a decision by the RAAF on retention, re- placement or upgrade of the Missile Ap- proach Warning System following a review of the aircraft’s capability requirement due no later than December 2020.
IOC for the $970 million Battlefield Command System has moved from Sep- tember 2021 to April 2023 following the Commonwealth’s inability to provide all the required Government Furnished Ma- terial, and contractor delays in meeting contract milestones, the ANAO reported.
Two key acquisition projects were included for the first time in the report. Hunter-class frigates and Attack-class submarines are both in the design stages with capability require- ments being refined and as such no materiel scope delivery has yet been approved.
DEFENCE