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Rockwell Collins completes Sale of More Than 3,600 GPS Receivers and Related Equipment to Australian DoD

13 Juni 2012

Rockwell Collins DAGR/Defense Advanced GPS Receivers (all photos : Rockwell Collins)

PARIS – Rockwell Collins has completed the delivery of more than 1,200 Defense Advanced GPS Receivers (DAGRs), 97 MicroDAGRs and related equipment to the Australian Department of Defence, and recently signed a second contract for 2,400 DAGRs with deliveries scheduled for July.

“Through the efforts of our United States and Australian teams, we were able to meet exceptionally tight delivery time frames in order to increase customer support and meet immediate capability requirements,” said Nick Gibbs, managing director of Rockwell Collins Australia.

Primarily used by the U.S. Army, the DAGR is considered the standard for handheld military GPS position, navigation and situational awareness. The receiver provides precise timing to synchronize tactical radios for the digital battlespace and includes a graphical user interface that greatly enhances the soldier’s effectiveness and safety.

The MicroDAGR is the latest member of Rockwell Collins’ highly successful family of handheld GPS receivers. The smart-phone inspired MicroDAGR provides dismounted soldiers with real-time position, navigation, moving maps and timing information on a full-color touch screen display, and is small enough to be worn on the wrist, attached to a lanyard, or placed in a pocket. The receiver features L1/L2 frequency capability, utilizing military only secure GPS signals with anti-jamming and anti-spoofing capabilities. MicroDAGR is also equipped with the latest Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM)-based anti-jamming software.

(Rocwell Collins)

723 Squadron Welcomes Bell 429 to HMAS Albatross

09 Juni 2012

Three Bell 429 helicopters supplied to RAN by Raytheon Australia (photo : RAN)

“These are indeed exciting times”, 723 Squadron Commanding Officer, Commander Matthew Shand told the assembled guests as the Royal Australian Navy marked the introduction of the Bell 429 helicopter into service with a ceremony at HMAS Albatross on 5th June.

“Since 1953, when 723 and the RAN received its first helicopters, 723 Squadron has continuously operated rotary wing aircraft including, Sycamores Scouts, Wessex, Iroquois, Kiowas, Squirrels and the A109.” Commander Shand said. “During this process I believe 723 has evolved into a rotary wing training centre of excellence and today this tradition continues with the latest incarnation, the very contemporary 429.“

Raytheon

Australia

secured the contract to provide the Navy with three Bell helicopters under the RAN’s Retention and Motivation Initiative (RMI).

AS-350BA Squirrel (photo : RAN)

Commander Fleet Air Arm, Commodore Peter Laver said the RMI was a very successful program. “It’s ensured our junior aircrew are able to develop their aviation skills prior to operational conversion to front line aircraft types, specifically the MRH-90 Taipan and S-70B-2 Seahawk. The introduction of the Bell429 will expose crews to some of the most advanced technology in rotary wing aviation today.”

LS Aaron Smits of 723 Squadron intends to take full advantage of these exciting times and the opportunities the Bell 429 will provide. “I’ll be trained as an aircrewman in the Bell”, he said, “so while I’ll be doing the same utility evolutions I've been doing in the Squirrel, it’s obviously going to be in a bigger aircraft with a bigger winch and the ability to pick up a lot more people, so the Bell is going to advance my capability and my training which will great for my career.”

“The Squirrel was a nice challenge”, LS Smits said, “but the Bell will be a bigger challenge, it's state of the art, the bees knees with everything you'd want, so it will be really exciting to be in such a capable aircraft and go away and do all the things we need to do in the navy"

(RAN)

Austal on Track as Cape Class Patrol Boat Keel Layed

08 Juni 2012

Cape class patrol boat (image & photos : Austal)

Demonstrating the rapid progress of the Cape Class Patrol Boat Program, Austal today hosted a keel-laying ceremony for the first of eight high performance patrol boats it is building for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.

Keel-laying traditionally marks the first significant milestone in a ship’s construction. Historically this was the “laying down” of the main timber making up the backbone of a vessel. Austal’s advanced shipbuilding techniques means fabrication of ship modules begins well before they are actually joined. So today Austal celebrates keel-laying when modules are brought together for final assembly.

Although Austal’s design and manufacturing approach is thoroughly modern, the ceremony retained long held shipbuilding traditions. This included placing specially minted coins under a keel block as a symbol of good fortune and to bless the ship. These coins will be removed just prior to the patrol boat’s launch which is scheduled for later this year.

Coins were placed by Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon. Jason Clare MP; Customs and Border Protection Chief Executive Officer Mr Michael Carmody; and Austal Chief Executive Officer, Mr Andrew Bellamy. Austal also invited Mr Clare to authenticate the keel by marking his initials on part of the boat’s aluminium structure. He was assisted by Richard Taylor, Austal’s Apprentice of the Year for 2011, who has now completed his apprenticeship and is working as a fabricator on the Cape Classprogram.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Bellamy said the Cape Class Patrol Boat Program was demonstrating Austal’s broad capability and world leadership in the defence field.

“Like our US Navy projects, this program shows that Austal can do more than design and manufacture world-class ships. We are also taking the prime contracting role and using in-house expertise to develop and integrate sophisticated electronic systems for command, control and communication. We are also building on our existing capabilities to establish and operate a comprehensive and effective in-service support system for the fleet,” Mr Bellamy said.

“This total solution capability represents the future of our Australian business, as we continue to expand and enhance the strategic industry capability necessary to meet the current and future defence needs of Australia and other nations,” he said.

Mr Bellamy said the fact that Austal had been awarded the contract after a rigorous, open international tender process by a highly experienced and meticulous customer reflected the company’s ability to successfully compete in the global market.

“This is the Australian Government getting the best possible value regardless of supplier nationality, and that’s the basis upon which we secured this work.

“The fact that we are on track to deliver that capability, as promised, is a credit to all involved. It reflects the skills and hard work of our staff, many of whom bring invaluable experience from previous government contracts carried out both here in Australiaand at our USshipyard,” he said.

Construction of the first Cape Class Patrol Boat will continue in accordance with schedule, with launch due in December this year prior to sea trials and delivery to Customs and Border Protection in March 2013. Austal’s eight year support contract for the fleet encompasses a full range of intermediate and depot level maintenance activities.

The Cape Class Patrol Boats will play a significant role in protecting Australia’s borders from multiple maritime threats, and have been designed to have greater range, endurance and flexibility, as well as enhanced capability to operate in more severe sea conditions than the current Customs and Border Protection fleet. The aluminium monohulls can operate at 25 knots and have a range in excess of 4000 nautical miles. Each can undertake simultaneous operations with two embarked 7.3 metre rigid hulled response vessels.

(Austal)

Australia Kicks Off Submarine Replacement

07 Juni 2012

Collins class submarine (marinesight)

CANBERRA (UPI) -- Australia's largest defense project got under way with the first meeting of government and industry leaders who will look at skills needed for the 30-year submarine project.

The Expert Panel of the Future Submarine Industry Skills Plan has begun consultations with defense manufacturers and educational institutions to identify the country's skills base within the ship construction supply chain as a prelude to tendering and production.

On the Expert Panel are senior executives from Australia's main shipbuilders ASC, Austal, BAE Systems and Forgacs Engineering as well as chief executive officers of major naval systems integration companies -- Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, Thales, Saab Systems and BAE Systems.

Also on the panel are representatives from unions and the government's Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education.

Last month the government set aside $214 million for initial studies to determine the country's submarine building capability to construct the 12 ships, none of them to be nuclear.

The government is also looking at land-based test facilities.

"The Future Submarine Project is the biggest and most complex defense project Australiahas ever embarked upon," Minister for Defense Materiel Jason Clare said.

"Hundreds of companies and thousands of workers will be required to support the construction of Australia's future submarines. The Industry Skills Plan will establish a road map to build and sustain the skills required to successfully deliver Australia's Future Submarine capability," he said.

The panel's terms of reference means it will be looking at systems design, naval architecture, propulsion and combat system engineering, production engineering, project planning and control, production scheduling, material procurement, risk management, budget control and financial accounting.

Also investigated will be Australia's supply of hard manufacturing and trade skills such as welders, boilermakers and electricians.

The government is considering the purchase of off-the-shelf ships from French builder DCNS, designer of the Scorpion, HD of Germany which builds the Type 212 and Type 214 submarines and from Nirvana in Spain, designer of the S-80 submarine.

In December the Department of Defense issued requests for information to DCNS, HD and Nirvana. It also signed a deal with Babcock for a study into a land-based propulsion test site, a report by Defense.com news Web site said.

But the government, in an effort to keep its six Collins class submarines updated until the new boats arrive, is talking with Swedish ship designer and builder Kockums to study obsolescence issues that may arise.

The Collins class submarines were built in the 1990 and 2000s and decommissioning will start likely by 2025.

Australiafirst set out its submarine replacement strategy in the 2009 White Paper Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030.

The fleet is being enlarged because of concerns over increases in the naval forces of Australia's Southeast Asian neighbors, in particular China which is in the process of introducing its first aircraft carrier.

(UPI)

Boeing Demonstrates SATCOM on the Move Between Australia and US

05 Juni 2012

Boeing has successfully demonstrated its SATCOM on the Move (SOTM) product on a live Ka-band satellite network. The company transmitted secure voice, video, and data from High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (Humvees) to test labs in Australia and the United States. (photo : Boeing Australia)

BRISBANE, Queensland - Boeing has successfully demonstrated its SATCOM on the Move (SOTM) product on a live Ka-band satellite network. The demonstration in May connected three sites in Australia and the United States using integrated voice, video, and data communications over the increased bandwidth available on the latest generation Ka-band satellite mobile terminals. This capability uses the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) system, also developed by Boeing.

During the demonstration, High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (Humvees) fitted with cameras and handheld radios successfully connected to test labs in Australia and the United States, simultaneously combining videoconferencing with military radio and telephones. The integrated SOTM demonstration proved core elements of a seamless, secure and deployable communications system.

This latest SOTM product evolved from combat-proven technologies used by the U.S. Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

"This demonstration shows the maturity and readiness of Boeing's capabilities in the suite of services required to provide satellite communications on the move," said Kim Gillis, vice president and managing director of Boeing Defence Australia. "Our proven SOTM technology will provide defense customers with confidence that HQ on the Move capability can be achieved on the Ka-band satellite system ready for the WGS network."

(Boeing Australia)

ANZAC Class Sustainment Contract Signed

05 Juni 2012

HMAS Perth, Anzac class frigates (photo : RAN)

A contract has been signed with Naval Ship Management (Australia), a new joint venture between Babcock and United Group Limited Infrastructure, for the repair and maintenance of the Navy’s eight ANZAC Class frigates.

This contract is the first of the grouped-asset, long term, performance-based contracts for the repair and maintenance of the Navy’s major surface ships. It reflects extensive engagement with Defence industry to develop a better model for the grouping or ‘batching’ of ship repair and maintenance jobs.

The contract has an anticipated value of $300 million dollars over five years, with the potential for rolling year-on-year contract extensions.

The revised model is more efficient, reducing the administrative burden of pre-event tender contracting, and providing greater predictability, certainty and stability for industry.

It will also allow Navy to plan and forecast maintenance and repair.

(Aus DoD)

Artillery Control Systems Contract Signed

05 Juni 2012

M777 155mm towed howitzer (photo : freerepublic)

A contract has been signed with Rockwell Collins

Australia

for the acquisition of 96 digital terminal control systems (DTCS) under Project Land 17 Phase 1B.

The digital terminal control system allows Special Forces and artillery forward observers to identify targets with greater accuracy through the use of precision targeting software.

The system allows soldiers to rapidly engage enemy targets more effectively and with greater accuracy.

Australian troops will use these systems to call on fire support from land, sea or airborne weapon system, including the Army’s new M777 towed artillery.

The contract with Rockwell Collins Australia has a total value of around $63 million including in-service support arrangements.

This contract provides the Army with control terminals, tactical full motion video systems, laser target designators and training.

This contract follows the Government’s approval in 2010 for the acquisition of 56 digital terminal control systems for use in Afghanistan. The DTCS are used to support Australian and ISAF operations.

Rockwell Collins Australiahas been operating in

Australia

for over 40 years and produces cutting edge avionics, navigation and communications technology.

(Aus DoD)

C-27J Contract Signed

04 Juni 2012

Alenia C-27 Spartan (photo : d_m_b)

A contract has been signed with Alenia Aermacchi that will allow for the long tern operation, maintenance, modification and upgrade of the C-27J aircraft and support systems.

On 12 May, the Government announced the decision to purchase 10 Alenia C-27J Spartan Battlefield Airlift aircraft at a cost of $1.4 billion. The announcement also foreshadowed that Defence would seek a separate agreement with the C-27J manufacturer, Alenia, in order to ensure that the RAAF could operate, maintain and modify the aircraft throughout its planned life.

The contract, which is worth around $63 million, will also provide Defence with the ability to compete and sublicense third parties, including Australian industry, to provide the maintenance services, training services and the ability to modify the C-27J capability.

The C-27J will replace the Caribou aircraft which was retired from service in 2009 after a career spanning more than four decades. The C-27J complements the capabilities of the C-130 and C-17 aircraft and uses more common infrastructure and aircraft systems such as engines, avionics and the cargo handling systems.

The acquisition of the C-27J will significantly improve the ADF’s ability to move troops, equipment and supplies. The C-27J has the capacity to carry a significant load and still access small, sort, narrow runways that are too short for the C-130J or runways which are unable to sustain the repeated use of larger aircraft.

These aircraft will provide battlefield airlift but are also capable of conducting airlift in our region. They will be able to operate from rudimentary airstrips in Australiaand overseas and will be able to support humanitarian missions in remote locations.

The flexibility of the C-27J allows it to undertake a wide range of missions from delivering ammunition to front line troops to undertaking aero-medical evacuation of casualties.

(Aus DoD)

Sixth Wedgetail Aircraft Arrives

04 Juni 2012

The sixth Wedgetail for RAAF (photo : Aus DoD)

The sixth and final Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft has been delivered and is now at its home base RAAF Williamtown.

The delivery of the sixth aircraft is a significant milestone for this important project, which delivers a world-class air battle management capability.

Wedgetail will provide Defence with an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) capability comprising of six aircraft and associated supplies and support.

Each of the aircraft is fitted with a highly advanced multipurpose radar system, which provides our Defence forces with greater situational awareness.

The Wedgetail aircraft will be a critical part for Australia’s Air Defence System and will enhance surveillance, air defence, fleet support and force coordination operations.

The delivery of the sixth aircraft reflects the combined efforts of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) and contracted suppliers including Boeing.

The Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft will be operated by No. 2 Squadron from RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle.

(Aus DoD)

Next stage for Hawkei Army Vehicle

04 Juni 2012

Two version of Hawkei prototype (all photos : Aus DoD)

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Government has allocated just over $38 million to further develop and test the next generation Hawkei Light Protected Mobility Vehicle.

The Hawkei is a mobile, 7-tonne fighting vehicle that offers a high level of protection for the soldiers inside it.

In December 2011 the Government announced that Thales Australia’s Hawkei had been selected as the preferred vehicle for the development and testing under Stage 2 of the Manufactured and Supported in Australia (MSA) option under LAND 121 Phase 4.

ThalesAustraliais currently manufacturing Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles at its factory inBendigo. This manufacturing capability, and the skills of the workforce, is an important national security capability which will be required for the production of the Hawkei.

Defence has now reached an agreement with ThalesAustraliato develop six prototype Hawkei vehicles for further testing. The first of these will be delivered later this year.

Throughout 2013, the Hawkei prototypes will undergo a range of testing and evaluation including user assessments, capability and reliability testing to evaluate the ability of the vehicle to deliver the capability required by Australian troops.

ThalesAustraliawill be required to meet technical performance, cost and schedule commitments in the development of the Hawkei vehicle. Progress in the development of the Hawkei will be assessed against a series of milestones that will determine the maturing design of the vehicle.

If Thales is successful in developing a suitable vehicle at an affordable cost in Stage 2, the Government will consider the merits of buying the Hawkei vehicles to meet Army’s Protected Mobility Vehicle (Light) requirement of LAND 121 Phase

Final Government approval of the project is expected to be able to be considered by 2015.

On current plans, manufacture of Bushmasters atBendigois expected to be completed before the end of 2013.

In order to retain critical skills inBendigowhile the design of the Hawkei is finalised and proven, the Government has agreed to explore the purchase of additional Bushmaster vehicles.

(Aus DoD)

Tiger Helicopters Resume Flying Operations

29 Mei 2012

Australian Army's Tiger ARH (photo : themarshall)

The Australian Army’s fleet of Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters (ARH) has returned to regular training activities following the lifting of a temporary suspension that was put in place on 16 May 2012 due to the detection of fumes in the cockpit of the aircraft.

The Army Operational Airworthiness Authority lifted the suspension late yesterday following a detailed assessment and a recommendation from the Technical Airworthiness Authority to resume flying operations.

There are 22 ARH in the Australian Army’s Oakey and Darwin based fleet, 19 of which are in the fully capable configuration operating in the fleet.

The ARH will soon deploy on Army’s largest annual foundation warfighting exercise. Exercise Hamel will be conducted in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area over three weeks from 21 June.

(AustralianArmy)

Qantas Defence Nears Completion of Last A330 MRTT Conversion

28 Mei 2012

The fifth and final A330 to KC-30 MRTT tanker conversion nearing completion.(photo : Aus DoD)

Qantas Defence Services is close to completing the conversion of Australia's fifth, and final, Airbus Military A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT).

The aircraft will be handed over to Airbus Military next week, with the European company to install the aerial refuelling boom, says Qantas Aviation Services head Glenn Brown. Qantas Defence Services is a unit of Qantas Aviation Services.

Industry sources in Australia suggest the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will not obtain a sixth A330 MRTT, which is designated the KC-30A in RAAF service.

Brown says that it would be very difficult for Qantas Defence Services to re-start the A330 MRTT conversion programme. Some contractors who worked on the programme have already moved on to other work within the Qantas Group or at other companies.

Such staff changes will cause a degree of institutional knowledge related to A330 MRTT conversions to be lost.

Moreover, other team members who worked on the conversions will move to other work. Last week, Qantas Airways said it would close its Boeing 737 maintenance operations at Melbourne's Tullarmrine Airport, with this work moving to Brisbane.

Brown, however, says that personnel who worked on the conversion programme have a "bright future." Aside from supporting KC-30A maintenance repair and overhaul work in Brisbane, staff previously involved in conversion work will also help with 737 work.

Airbus Military has previously said the fifth A330 MRTT would be delivered to the RAAF in the third quarter of 2012.

Separately, Brown said that Qantas Defence Services has submitted a proposal to the RAAF for the conversion of four Lockheed Martin C-130H aircraft which could be donated to Indonesia.

Brown says "tripartite talks" are underway between Australia, Indonesia, and the United States about these aircraft. Australia obtained the aircraft under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mechanism, and needs US clearance for the Indonesian transaction to take place.

(FlightGlobal)

Aussie Engines Ordered for Aerosonde SUAS

26 Mei 2012

Aeronde small UAV (photo : uasvison, suasnews)

PERTH, Australia (UPI) -- The Aerosonde small unmanned aerial system is to be powered by efficient heavy fuel engines from Orbital Corp. of

Australia

Orbital, a provider of engine and vehicle technologies and alternative fuel solutions, said the contract from AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems is worth about $4.7 million

The engines, to be used on the latest configuration of the Aerosonde, use the Orbital's FlexDI Engine Management system to enable spark ignition operation of heavy fuels such as JP5 and JP8. Use of those fuels meets U.S. Navy requirements to eliminate gasoline fuels.

The U.S. Navy and Special Operations Command recently contracted AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems -- a U.S. company and subsidiary of Textron Systems -- to provide SUAS fee-for-service operations using the Aerosonde.

"New ground had to be broken with AAI to meet their aggressive SUAS engine requirements, and we have been able to successfully develop and supply the demonstration engines from our Perth facility," said Terry Stinson, chief executive officer and managing director of Orbital. "This success now leads to production supply of engine systems.

"This is good example of Australian innovation, and demonstrates Orbital's engineering and product development capabilities."

Orbital said its engine for the SUAS can improve the aircraft's mission range by 40 percent or alternatively allow for greater and heavier vehicle payloads.

Aerosonde Pty Ltd. in Australia, a subsidiary of AAI, is a manufacturer of small UAS vehicles.

The number of engines to be delivered was not disclosed, but Orbital indicated deliveries would take place this year.

(UPI)

Australian Navy to Trial Embarked UAVs

25 Mei 2012

RAN will conduct tests on ScanEagle, Aerosonde and Camcopter UAV (photo : Shephard)

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has secured funding for flight trials of a number of embarked UAVs as it works towards its ambition of having a naval UAV squadron before 2020.

Speaking at the UV-Pacific conference being held on the Gold Coast, Australiaon 24 May, Lt Cdr Bob Ferry, naval UAS development project manager, said that over the coming financial year trials would be carried out on the ScanEagle, Aerosonde and Camcopter.

‘We are about to tap into the existing Insitu Scan Eagle contract – we are signing up for 300 hours in the next financial year to continue experimentation. I am going to spread it amongst these three [platforms] – primarily Scan Eagle for 300 hours,’ Ferry said.

He noted that first of class flight trials (FOCFT) would be carried out on an ANZAC frigate in September 2012 and would then take place on HMAS Choules in early 2013. Open ocean warfare experimentation would be carried out in November 2012 while the navy plans to do patrol boat trials using ‘hub and spoke’ land-based operations.

The RAN currently has no UAS systems in service and there are no acquisition projects in place. However, there are plans for this to change and a Naval Unmanned Aerial Systems Development Unit (NUASDU) was formed in February 2010 to study the issue through to mid-2013.

With Australiaworking on a new defence white paper, which is expected to be released next year, there is expectation that naval UAV operations will be mandated, despite the ‘current fiscal and manpower constraints’ that are hampering its introduction.

‘The 2009 white paper made mention of UAVs on ships. It said we could operate them but didn’t give us much leverage to go and spend millions of dollars. A force structure review paper on UAVs was specifically asked for by CN [Chief of the Navy] and he endorsed it in February, with the intent of it going forward into the next white paper,’ Ferry explained.

‘What’s it going to say? What I hope it says is what I wrote for CN – all navy vessels will be fitted for and with a UAS. We need to have them out there and they need to be involved in everything we do.’

Ferry noted that the Naval Aviation Vision 2020 forecasts the establishment of a naval UAV squadron before 2020 and the navy is still tracking towards that.

The issues that need to be resolved for this to happen include: determining what the UAS controller/maintainer qualifications ought to be, especially given the UAS will be required to operate in civil airspace; what the system certification be and would they be state registered, ADF owned or civil registered; and interoperability between ship classes and other ADF assets.

‘We have got to make sure there is interoperability, not just between our ships but between those others we play with and that’s one of the nuts we need to crack as well.’

To help resolve some of these issues, the navy has embedded two personnel into the Royal Australian Air Force Number 5 Flight, which operates the Heron UAV, to bring back feedback from their experience.

(Shephard)

Australian Defence Manufacturer Wins Global Contract

24 Mei 2012

Lovitt Technologies had won a contract with Boeing valued at nearly $1 million for wing parts for the worldwide F/A-18 Super Hornet fleet. (photo : RAAF)

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that Victorian-based company Lovitt Technologies had won a contract with Boeing valued at nearly $1 million for wing parts for the worldwide F/A-18 Super Hornet fleet.

“This is an outstanding achievement for Lovitt technologies and is the result of their hard work and demonstrates their high level of manufacturing capability,” Mr Clare said.

Lovitt Technologies employs around 80 staff and specialises in machining, assembly and testing of aero structures. Lovitt Technologies also recently won another contract with Boeing to supply machined parts to Boeing for the V-22 Osprey.

Lovitt is one of several Australian companies that have in recent months been successful under the Global Supply Chain (GSC) program in penetrating the overseas export market. It has been engaged in the Australian Government’s Global Supply Chain Program since the program’s launch in 2009.

Six global defence prime contractors – Boeing, Raytheon, Thales, Northrop Grumman and more recently BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin – are now actively engaged in the Global Supply Chain program implemented through the Defence Materiel Organisation.

The contract awarded to Lovitt also reinforces Boeing’s ongoing commitment to Australian industry through the Global Supply Chain Program,” Mr Clare said.

“The Global Supply Chain Program continues to provide an avenue for capable Australian companies seeking to win export work with international defence primes.

“The value of export contracts won to date that have been facilitated through the Global Supply Chain Program is now more than $446 million,” Mr Clare said.

(Aus DoD)

Possible FMS for 12 EA-18G Modification Kits to Australia

23 Mei 2012

EA-18G Growler (photo : Militaryphotos)

WASHINGTON – The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia for 12 EA-18G Modification Kits to convert F/A-18F aircrafts to the G configuration and associated parts, equipment, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $1.7 billion.

The Government of Australia has requested a possible sale of 12 EA-18G Modification Kits to convert F/A-18F aircrafts to G configuration, (34) AN/ALQ-99F(V) Tactical Jamming System Pods, (22) CN-1717/A Interference Cancellation Systems (INCANS), (22) R-2674(C)/A Joint Tactical Terminal Receiver (JTTR) Systems, (30) LAU-118 Guided Missile Launchers, Command Launch Computer (CLC) for High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) and Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government (USG) and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated cost is $1.7 billion.

Australia is an important ally in the Western Pacific. The strategic location of this political and economic power contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in the region. Australia’s efforts in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations have made a significant impact to regional political and economic stability and have served U.S. national security interests. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives and facilitates burden sharing with our allies.

The proposed sale will improve Australia’s capability in current and future coalition efforts. Australia will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense. Australia will have no difficulty absorbing this new capability into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor will be The Boeing Corporation in St. Louis, Missouri. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale may require the assignment of additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Australia.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

(DSCA)

Lockheed Martin’s Aegis Computer Program Development Approved by U.S. Navy for Australian Warfare Destroyer

22 Mei 2012

Hobart class Air Warfare Destroyer (image : MConrads)

MOORESTOWN, NJ –Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has completed computer program development and testing for the HOBART class Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD), the Royal Australian Navy’s Aegis-equipped ships. The computer programs have been approved by the U.S. Navy.

Tests were conducted over a two-week period at the Navy's land-based test facility, the Vice Admiral James H. Doyle Combat Systems Engineering Development Site in New Jersey.

"The Aegis Weapon System enables navies around the world to protect their citizens and their nations from continuously evolving threats,” said Doug Wilhelm, director of international Aegis programs for Lockheed Martin’s Mission Systems & Sensors business. “We look forward to working with the U.S and allied navies to continue to provide proven anti-air warfare capability on a global scale.”

The HOBART class will be capable of simultaneous operations in a multi-warfare environment, including anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine and naval gunfire support roles.

Lockheed Martin is a leader in combat systems integration and the development of integrated air and missile defense systems and technologies. Manufacturing work for this program will occur in Moorestown, N.J.

In addition to the U.S. and Australian navies, Aegis is also the weapon system for the navies of Japan, Norway, the Republic of Korea and Spain. The 100 Aegis-equipped ships in service around the globe have more than 1,250 years of at-sea operational experience and have launched more than 3,800 missiles in tests and real-world operations.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 123,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion.

(Lockheed Martin)

Lockheed Martin Ready for RAAF F-35 Training

21 Mei 2012

Despite delays to the project in last week’s budget, Lockheed Martin stands ready to stand up the Australian training contingent for the F-35 JSF. (photo : simhq)

Lockheed Martin stands ready to stand up the Australian training contingent for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter despite delays to the project in last week’s budget, the company has said.

Speaking to a media tour of the company’s Global Training and Logistics business unit in Orlando, Florida Lockheed Martin’s F-35 International Training Program’s manager Eric Christner said the pilot and maintainer training site at Eglin Air Force Base was being stood up in line with the needs of the services taking F-35 aircraft.

“It’s really a [New Air Combat Capability office] decision how they want to go forward. Initially, pilots will be trained in the US, either at Eglin [Air Force Base], or the Pilot Training Centre which will be set up at a second site. Maintainers will be trained at Eglin,” Mr Christner said.

“There really hasn’t been much feedback yet as to how the plans will be effected.”

Lockheed Martin has recently delivered an Australian sustainment plan for the F-35 program and a response was due from government in the coming months. Developed in conjunction with the RAAF, Mr Christner said the plan outlined the standing up of training facilities in Williamtown and Tindall, including schedule and contracting arrangements.

Mr Christner said the company was unsure of how the budgetary delays would impact on the sustainment plan, but expected a request for update from government after the plan’s delivery.

Mr Christner said the 13 services requiring training for the F-35 – including US services and partner nations – represented a significant challenge for the development of a training solution.

“If you look at our core syllabus, about 70 per cent of the syllabus is common to those 13 services. Of the remaining 30 per cent, 15 per cent is minor differences in nomenclature – different services doing the same task but with different wording to describe them. The remaining 15 per cent are due to the three variants of the aircraft,” Mr Christner said.

“We’re very happy with the amount of commonality we were able to derive from this design. Those common systems make the training package more cost effective in development and provide for affordability during the life-cycle.”

The F-35 Integrated Training System makes use of synthetic and advanced simulation systems as well as the platforms themselves. The system also includes operational and deployed training components allowing for on-demand training and mission rehearsal.

In the development of the system, Lockheed Martin worked with partner nations to develop a baseline for pilot and maintainer students prior to undertaking training for the F-35. While the baseline would require recommendations for existing in-country training systems, Mr Christner said that most partner nations had higher existing standards than the United States.

“Many partner nations take university graduates for training in maintainer and pilot roles, while the United States takes people with a high school education. While the assessment included recommendations for some services, in most cases this wasn’t required and focused on a common understanding of student prerequisites.”

(AustralianAviation)

Kelvin Hughes to Develop Training System for BAE Systems Australia Defence

18 Mei 2012

Canberra Class Amphibious Ships equipped with the Naval MantaDigital™ radar display and SharpEye™ solid state radar sensor functions and tactical features. (all photos : Kelvin Hughes)

Kelvin Hughes has announced it has been contracted to provide the training system for its dedicated short range helicopter control radar (SRHCR) to BAE Systems Australia Defence. BAE Systems Australia Defence are contracted to the Defence Material Organisation to train the initial crews for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) new Canberra Class Amphibious Ships.

The innovative landing solution has been integrated into Canberra Class Amphibious Ships being built by BAE Systems Australia and Navantia. The ships will enter service during 2014 and 2015 and will be the largest warships ever operated by the Royal Australian Navy.

The Kelvin Hughes training system is expected to be commissioned in November 2012 at a new training facility, in Sydney, Australia, enabling operators and maintenance personnel to learn about the Naval MantaDigital™ radar display and SharpEye™ solid state radar sensor functions and tactical features.

The training system has been developed to allow operators to experience and practice on-board fault-finding and then follow protocol on how to correct potential problems that may occur during live operations on the Amphibious Ships.

Simulated errors are created in the system for trainees to fault-find using the system schedule and procedures, enabling the operator to understand the layout, functions and radar tactical features of the radar display system.

Barry Wade, managing director of Kelvin Hughes Surveillance Systems, said the training solution has been developed as part of Kelvin Hughes commitment to supplying a complete radar solution including training and support to the customer.

He added: “We are very pleased to be providing a training system that enables a direct comparison between the simulation environment and the operational environment, and is testament to the flexibility of Naval MantaDigital™ and SharpEye™ open architecture radar equipment.”

(Kelvin Hughes)

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