Page 21 - Australian Defence Magazine June 2022

JUNE 2022 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
DEFENCE BUSINESS INDO PACIFIC 21
LITTORAL MANOEUVRE VESSELS
AS Senior Correspondent Julian Kerr wrote in the May edition of ADM, Land 8710 is a ‘very ambitious’ program seeking a Lit- toral Manoeuvre Vessel – Medium (LMV- M) to “provide independent shore-to-shore and ship-to-shore capability, to enable ma- noeuvre and sustainment of the amphibi- ous Joint Force over extended ranges in re- stricted littoral and riverine environments.”
The Commonwealth is seeking 18 ves- sels that can carry any ADF vehicle, in- cluding an upgraded Abrams M1A2 main battle tank, in a capability that will allow Army to ‘self-deploy’ across the Coral Sea.
ADM understands the vessels are not intended for contested landings, but for the delivery of equipment to support joint amphibious operations – say, for example, delivering ground-based air defence systems onto islands in the ar- chipelagos to Australia’s north. They will however be armed with two .50 calibre machine guns and two remote weapons stations (EOS’ R400-M remote weapon station will be supplied as Government Furnished Equipment).
Austal Australia, Birdon, BMT, Navan-
tia Australia and Serco have all thrown their hats into the ring, with a few of those companies announcing new teaming ar- rangements at Indo-Pacific.
The recent security pact between Solo- mon Islands and China also brings this program into geopolitical focus. Army’s future ability to self-deploy complex weap- on systems near maritime choke points north of Australia on short notice – such as maritime strike weapons or air defences – could offset the strategic value of a fu- ture Chinese base south of Guam.
ABOVE: Raytheon, Austal and BMT have teamed for Land 8710 with the Independent Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel (ILMV) vessel designed by BMT
The program also raised questions on whether Defence is concerned about the survivability of the two LHDs, as Land 8710 mandates interoperability with those ships – meaning they can sit at a greater distance from shore while the LMV-Ms disembark troops and equipment.
The RFT closes on 14 June.
ADDITIONAL SEAHAWKS FOR NAVY
ON the eve of the Indo Pacific exhibition, then-Minister for Defence Peter Dutton and then-Defence Industry Minister Me- lissa Price confirmed the purchase of an additional 12 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk ‘Romeo’ helicopters for the RAN.
The helicopters will be acquired under Sea 9100 Phase 1 (Embarked Logistics Support Capability) role, to replace Navy’s current MRH 90 Taipan fleet. The an- nouncement also included acquisition of a
13th helicopter, to replace an example lost in the Philippine Sea in October 2021.
The new helicopters will be capable of being re-configured for anti-submarine warfare role if required as they will fit- ted for, but without, the AQS-22 Airborne Low Frequency Sonar (ALFS) system.
Speaking to ADM at Indo Pacific, Lock- heed Martin Australia Business Develop- ment Manager, Rotary Wing, Blair Drink- water said the helicopters will be delivered
between August 2025 and May 2026, based on current production plans.
“The Navy very much wanted to get these aircraft operational as they draw down the MRH 90 fleet and there are configuration requirements in the contract that allows them to have a mix of capability to meet their operational needs,” Drinkwater said.
“I think we’re now seeing what fleet ra- tionalisation actually does look like.”
Lockheed Martin Australia forecasts an additional 90 personnel will be needed to support the expanded Romeo fleet in its mature state and is also looking towards future support synergies with the Army’s future purchase of 40 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters.
LEFT: The recently announced decision to acquire additional MH60R Seahawks will include a replacement for one of Navy’s existing helicopters which was lost at sea
NIGEL PITTAWAY
NIGEL PITTAWAY