Page 49 - Defence Industry Guide #54 2021

ADM’s Defence Industry Guide 2021 | Edition 54 | www.defencesuppliers.com.au
LAND FORCES 2021 REVIEW 49
LEFT: Signallers from 7th Combat Signal Regiment work with Integrated Battlefield Telecommunications Network equipment.
SPECIAL FORCES HELICOPTER CONTEST PROGRESS
Although the companies involved in Army’s Land 2097 Phase 4 (Light Special Forces Support Helicopter) com- petition at Land Forces 2021 understandably
declined to discuss the program, ADM under-
Army’s requirement specifies up to 16 off-the-shelf heli- copters in the four-tonne class, primarily to support Coun- ter-Terrorism (CT) operations. As such, the new helicopter will deliver an Air Assault capability, using small teams of Special Forces soldiers and will also be fitted with a fast- roping system to allow troops to be rapidly inserted while hovering outside ground effect (OGE). Secondary roles in- clude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR),
stands the Bell 429 is the preferred solution and the H145M has now been eliminated from the race.
The Airbus H145M had been proposed by Air- bus Group Australia Pacific, against two teams – Babcock and Jet Aviation (formerly Hawker Pacific) – each bidding a solution based on the Bell 429 helicopter. An official announcement regarding the winning bidder is expected at Second Pass approval, currently scheduled to occur in the fourth quarter of this year.
“ADM UNDERSTANDS THE BELL 429 IS THE PREFERRED SOLUTION AND THE H145M HAS NOW BEEN ELIMINATED FROM THE RACE”
fire support and general utility. Although not currently mandated, an armed capability has been included as an option.
In other battlefield helicopter news released just after Land Forces, the US Defense Secu- rity Co-operation Agency (DSCA) announced that the US Congress has approved the sale of 29 Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian at- tack helicopters to Australia.
The Apache is being acquired under Land 4503, replacing the Tiger Armed Reconnais- sance Helicopter (ARH), under a sole source selection process, from 2028. Included in the
“The project and the procurement process is ongoing, the tender is still being evaluated and it’s on time,” said Bell’s business director for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Rim, Dan McQuestin said. “I feel good about the Bell 429, it meets the specifications and it is an aircraft that enjoys high availability rates, because it has low main- tenance requirements.”
estimated US$3.5 billion (A$4.52 billion) deal are 16 APG- 78 Longbow millimetre-wave fire-control radars and Radar Electronic Units (REUs).
“The proposed sale will improve Australia’s capability to meet current and future threats, and will enhance in- teroperability with US forces and other allied forces,” the release stated. ■
“Sydney City Marine – the premier maritime repair and maintenance facility in the Sydney Basin, now authorised by the Royal Australian Navy to dock all Australian Defence Force vessels up to 800 tonnes.”
www.sydneycitymarine.com.au