Page 67 - Williams Foundation Integrated Force Design Seminar

Designing the Integrated Force: How to Define and Meet the Challenge?

We can start with the 737 aspects of operating both aircraft and the maintenance opportunities and
challenges.

And we do train the electronic system operators on the Wedgetail.

And as we stand up we can connect the simulators as well to shape a broader approach to the capabilities
the three aircraft can deliver, namely Wedgetail, P-8 and Triton.

There are many opportunities regarding the synergies between the E-7A and the P-8A that we are yet to
explore.

Question: With an aircraft with a broader span of capability, there is the challenge of the demand side.

What about the challenge of meeting the needs of a broader set of customers?

Answer: The MPA is a very flexible platform and has been in high demand by many customers.

That is both an opportunity and a challenge.

What it means it that is we will have to prioritize the missions and the customer base for the new systems and
capabilities.

We have a large, expansive ocean that we need to patrol around Australia, a large region of interest and
we have a small number of assets.

Tasking prioritization, discipline associated with that and getting that right so that we can maximize all those
opportunities is key.
With the P-8, and family of systems with the Triton, we can deliver capabilities to many more customers at
varying levels, ranging from the strategic to the operational tactical level.

Balancing that demand and getting it right is going to be challenging.

It’s a bonus, it’s a fantastic opportunity, but at the same time we can’t do everything for everyone all the time.

That said, we have directed levels of capability that we will be able to meet.

Question: Let us talk about the way ahead and the advantages of being on the ground floor of the P-8
program.

How do you see those advantages?

Answer: In some ways, it is like having a two nation F-35 program.

Because we are a cooperative partner we have a stake and say in the evolution of the aircraft.

And this is particularly important because the aircraft is software upgradeable.

This allows us working with the USN to drive the innovation of the aircraft and its systems going forward.
We’ve been allowed to grow and develop our requirements collectively.

We think this is very far sighted by the USN as well.

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