Page 53 - May 2019

On The Radar
Seventh Triton still on the table RAAF welcomes next

Fifth Generation Fighters
One of RAAF’s most significant approach that requires RAAF to take on
unmanned acquisitions over the last a degree of risk in exchange for a limited Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher
year is the MQ-4C Triton. At the time ability to tailor the program towards Pyne MP, together with Minister for
of the announcement, the option for a unique Australian requirements. Defence Industry, Senator the Hon
seventh option had not yet been taken “The Cooperative Program is Linda Reynolds CSC, announced the
off the table, and was able to confirm different to an FMS in that we’re a arrival of the next two F-35A Joint Strike
this with representatives from RAAF partner,” GPCAPT Martin Nussio, Fighter aircraft into Australia.
and Northrop Grumman at this year’s Director ISR for CASG, explained. “I’m pleased to welcome our newest
Avalon Airshow. “In this case, the decision [to enter a F-35As, A35-011 and A35-012, bringing
The six aircraft will be based at cooperative program] was to do with the total number of aircraft in Australia
RAAF Edinburgh in SA and RAAF where Triton is at in its development to four,” Minister Pyne said.
Tindal in NT to undertake maritime cycle. That means we share risk, but “After completing various validation
surveillance operations - cruising at 310 also share reward. and verification activities in the United
knots for up to 24 hours at 46,000 feet, “It’s genuinely a cooperative States, these aircraft have now arrived
11,000 kilometres from home, with a partnership.” at RAAF Base Williamtown and will be
400 kilometre sensor range. According The option for a seventh Triton is assigned to Number 3 Squadron.”
to GPCAPT Jason Lind, Director of under consideration an attrition aircraft, Minister Reynolds said the F-35A
ISR, EW and Space for RAAF, the although a decision on further platforms program has provided significant
platform is also defined by ability to awaits the next White Paper. opportunities for Australian industry.
plug into other 5th Gen platforms: “It’s “We’ve committed to six, but we’ll “More than 50 Australian companies
the networking we’re interested in – be looking at attrition aircraft,” GPCAPT have directly shared in over $1.3 billion
using the combat cloud to improve our Lind said. “If another White Paper were in global F-35A production contracts
decision superiority.” to come out then maybe it would be a to date, employing more than 2,400
different decision, but for now it is six Australians,” Minister Reynolds said.
with the attrition aircraft question down “This also includes small and unique
the track. That’s the government’s Australian businesses who indirectly
prerogative.” benefit through the supply chain
The reason for the split between network.”
RAAF Edinburgh and RAAF Tindal, “More opportunities are expected
GPCAPT Lind explained, was that for Australian companies as production
Defence intended to use the aircraft continues, with Australian industry
to fly further south than previously involvement expected to exceed $2
possible. billion by 2023 and employ 5,000 people
“This is an asset that can go down nationally.”
to Heard Island and Antarctica – places Australia will take delivery of eight
we haven’t been able to reach before,” F-35A aircraft in 2019 and at least 72
GPCAPT Lind said. “We’ve got flexibility aircraft over the life of the program.
with this aircraft flying phenomenal
distances. Certainly down in Edinburgh https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/
we’ll be going south.”
The expanded coverage towards
Antarctica means that Triton
will represent a unique whole-of-
government capability, with data from
the platform theoretically accessible
to other departments, such as the
Antarctic Division and the Australian
Fisheries Management Authority, in
MQ-4C Triton. Courtesy Northrop ‘near real-time’.
Grumman. “We’re not doing this for ourselves,”
GPCAPT Lind said. “We should be
As part of the acquisition, Australia is
entering into a $200 million cooperative sharing our info as quickly as possible
program with the US Navy to develop, and to whom needs it in government.”
produce, and sustain the Triton: an Courtesy Australian Defence Magazine The next two F-35As recently arrived into
Australia. Photo CPL Craig Barrett.

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