|
|
Welcome to the special Defense Systems Journal Edition of Vol.
12, No. 32 of the Weekly DIAR.com e-Newsletter.
Special Defense Systems Journal Edition Each week the Defence Industry & Aerospace Report (DIAR.com) e-Newsletter provides an up-to-date listing
of all Australia’s major Defence & National Border Protection corporate press releases, speeches and reports by
way of a headline and brief summary extract, as well as other international defence business news items relevant to current
Australian Department of Defence new military capability acquisitions as reflected in official guidance provided by way of
the 2009 Defence White Paper and the 2009-2019 Defence Capability Plan (DCP). If you would like your corporate press release
considered for inclusion in future DIAR.com editions, please forward a copy to newsroom@busicom.com.au. DIAR.com is a Business Communications Group publicationAustralia – Tel: 1300 369 781 – Fax: 1300 369 782International -- Tel: +61 (0) 2 6260 5944 -- Fax: +61 (0) 2 6260 3977
Website: www.diar.com
ROHDE & SCHWARZ DEAL FAILS TO SAVE MCKEW IN BENNELONG: A late ‘caretaker’
period announcement by DM&S Minister Combet and the Member for Bennelong, Maxine McKew, confirmed 17 August the selection
of Rohde & Schwarz (R&S) Australia as preferred supplier for the suite of radio equipment to equip the three new project
Sea 4000 ‘Hobart’-class air warfare destroyers (AWD). The approximately $30m procurement was said to have already
been included in budget provisions supporting the $8 billion approved major capital investment program acquisition, for which
$1,146m was allocated in 2010/11. The R&S radios are to form the core of the AWD communications solution, providing
reliable long-range strategic & medium-range tactical communications between other ships, aircraft and land forces. Design
and fabrication work will be carried out at R&S’s North Ryde (Sydney) facility. McKew subsequently lost the seat
Bennelong (previously held by John Howard) to the Liberals’ John Alexander. [21.08.10] (DIAR.com) JASSM INTEGRATION STUMBLING ALONG TO LATE-2010 RAAF TEST FIRING: Lockheed Martin officials
briefing Australian journalists in San Diego on progress with the integration of the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off
Missile (JASSM) into US defence platforms, have confirmed successful outcomes on the F-16C/D, B-52H, B-2 and B1-B. The baseline
JASSM is also scheduled to be integrated by the end of 2010 into the RAAF’s F/A-18A/B ‘Hornet’ aircraft,
which will require test firings at both China Lake (in the US), and the ‘Woomera’ test range in South Australia
in order to achieve the contracted initial operational capability (IOC) milestone. Defence reported in May that US Navy development
of RAAF ‘Hornet’ operational flight program software was anticipated to culminate in a live JASSM firing in the
US - from an Australian project Air 5376 HUG 2.2 aircraft - around June 2010. Success in the US test firing was next anticipated
to result in an operational test firing in Australia (using a 77 Squadron ‘Hornet’) in September. [21.08.10] (DIAR.com) IED ATTACK KILLS TWO DISMOUNTED AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS: Two Australian soldiers serving
with the 1st Mentoring Task Force in Afghanistan - Private Thomas Dale (21) and Private Grant Kirby (35), have
been killed in action after being struck by an improvised explosive device (IED). The two soldiers had dismounted from their
‘Bushmaster’ vehicle when they were struck by the blast. Two other Australian soldiers inside the ‘Bushmaster’
were wounded in the explosion, and were subsequently evacuated by air to the ISAF medical hospital at Tarin Kowt. All four
soldiers are from the Brisbane-based 6th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment. The incident occurred during
a joint counter-IED operation with Afghan National Army soldiers who were moving to an observation position in the Baluchi
Valley to cover the operation. [21.08.10] (DIAR.com) AFGHANISTAN MISSION RE-AFFIRMED AS TWO
TO FOUR YEARS: Addressing media in response to the announcement of battle casualties in Afghanistan, Defence
Minister Faulkner has reiterated that “Australia is in Afghanistan as part of the international community operating
under a United Nations mandate at the invitation of the government of Afghanistan (with) 47 international partners ... with
the clear and critically important objective of ridding Afghanistan from the scourge of terrorism. The best advice of the
ADF, provided to me after my request to the CDF, is that the 4th Brigade of the Afghan National Army training mission
will be completed in two to four years ... so it itself can take over responsibility for stability and security in Uruzgan
Province.” [21.08.10] (DIAR.com) INTENSIVE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN FAILS TO
‘STOP THE BOATS’: The ‘Armidale’-class patrol boat - HMAS ‘Wollongong’
- operating under the control of Border Protection Command (BPC), has intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel (SIEV)
north of Christmas Island, with 31 passengers and three crew aboard. In related developments, ‘Wollongong’ crew
also boarded another SIEV north west of Christmas Island on 17 August (carrying 50 passengers and two crew), whilst on 13
August the vessel intercepted a SIEV north of Christmas Island carrying 17 passengers and four
crew. All groups have been transferred to Christmas Island in order to undergo security, identity and health checks,
and have their reasons for travel established. [19.08.10] (DIAR.com) PREMIER SHIPBUILDER TO HEAD UP WA ‘AUSMARINE’
EXHIBITION: Henderson-based (WA)
Austal has confirmed its participation in the ‘Ausmarine’ 2010 exhibition, to be held in Perth from 23-25 November.
Austal says it will be exhibiting at the exhibition its range of recently launched (June) ‘Wind Express’
series work boat platforms, which are tailored to enhance offshore wind farm support operations. The
company is similarly pitching its new ‘multi-role vessel’ (MRV) design to the Department of Defence in satisfaction
of the Navy’s project Sea 1180 requirement for a new offshore patrol vessel that can accommodate multiple missions,
such as minehunting and hydrography. Austal is also contesting the Australian Customs & Border Protection Service’s
new ‘Cape’-class patrol boat project (ie: set to replace the existing ‘Bay’-class
vessels). Austal also undertakes vessel maintenance and support activities in Fremantle and Darwin. [19.08.10] (DIAR.com) BOEING MARKS ‘HORNET’
PYLON MODIFICATION PROGRAM MILESTONE: Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) has confirmed its modification of the
32nd wing pylon under phase 2.3 of project Air 5376 - the RAAF’s F/A-18 ‘Hornet’ Upgrade (HUG) program –
thus delivering the number of pylons required to achieve the project’s Interim Operational Capability (IOC) milestone.
BDA is responsible under phase 2.3 for upgrading the active electronic warfare threat receivers on all 71 F/A-18 ‘Hornet’
aircraft from its facilities at RAAF Base ‘Williamtown’ (NSW). This work includes modifying the wing pylons on
each aircraft to carry advanced countermeasures dispensers, and re-wiring the electrical system to accommodate the new system.
BDA commenced the pylon modification program in March 2010 and is expected to complete the remaining 44 pylons by August 2011.
[18.08.10] (DIAR.com) CHIEF OF AIR FORCE HOSTS INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC DIALOGUE:
The Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin, has
hosted his counterparts - US General Norton A. Schwartz; UK Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton; Canadian LtGen Andre Deschamps
- for a series of key strategic meetings. The Air Force ‘four party’ dialogue covered Afghanistan operations,
current and emerging aircraft and space capabilities (with all four countries identifying the Joint Strike Fighter as a key
element of their future air combat capability), and opportunities for future training co-operation and engagement. The program
included visits to the HQ Joint Operations Command at Bungendore, and RAAF Base ‘Williamtown’ (NSW) - where the
visiting Air Force Chiefs received updates on emergent RAAF capabilities, including the project Air 5077 ‘Wedgetail’,
the project Air 5349 F/A-18F Block 2 ‘Super Hornet’; and the project Air 5402 KC-30A multi-role tanker transport
aircraft. [17.08.10] (DIAR.com) UNIVERSITY OF WA TRACKING TECHNOLOGY WINS ‘EUREKA’ PRIZE: A University of Western Australia
team led by Professor Ba-Ngu Vo, has won the DSTO-sponsored 2010 ‘Eureka’ Prize for ‘Outstanding Science
in support of Defence or National Security’. The Chief Defence Scientist, Professor Robert Clark, presented the $10,000
prize to the research team from the university’s School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, at
a Sydney awards ceremony. The team developed an innovative approach to ‘tracking’ algorithms that significantly
increase the capacity to handle thousands of objects of interest, using less demanding computing power than traditional tracking
methods. Professor Clark saw the work having many defence benefits, including an improved identification capability at longer
ranges (ie: for hazardous urban environments), and for the protection of ships, aircraft and vehicles. [17.08.10] (DIAR.com) BRUMBY-FUNDED NATIONAL AVIATION & AEROSPACE BODY LAUNCHED: Victorian Industry & Trade Minister, Jacinta Allan, has officially launched a new Victorian-based
national peak aviation and aerospace body, with the assistance of a $500,000 grant. The new Australian Association of Aviation
and Aerospace Industries (A4I) aims to provide a unified national voice for the aviation and aerospace sectors, so as to drive
exports and jobs growth. The A4I is chaired by the Managing Director of Boeing Aerostructures Australia, Mark Ross, and brings
together industry leaders to provide guidance on policy issues that are of interest to its members. A4I’s activities
will include: facilitating opportunities for overseas collaboration; organising networking events; and raising awareness of
the sector and its job opportunities. Minister Allan said the Victorian aerospace sector presently generates annual export
revenues of more than $250m. [17.08.10] (DIAR.com) RETIRING MINISTER RELEASES LABOR DEFENCE PLATFORM: An Australian Labor Party platform
for national defence released by Senator John Faulkner (who is set to stand down as Defence Minister following declaration
of the Federal election outcome), contains few new initiatives other than those outlined in the 2009 Defence White Paper,
the updated (February 2010) Defence Capability Plan (DCP), the May Force Protection Review and June Defence & Industry
Policy Statement. Further emphasis was, however, given to boosting services for ADF members in relation to housing and health,
as well as access to specialist rehabilitation for wounded war veterans upon their return to Australia. New capability enhancement
intentions highlighted by Labor include: naval combat helicopters (Air 9000/8); a fleet of frigates (Sea 5000); twelve submarines
(Sea 1000); two batteries of self-propelled guns (Land 17/1C); two additional C-130Js (Air 8000/1); up to ten light tactical
fixed-wing aircraft (Air 8000/2), eight maritime surveillance aircraft (Air 7000/2B); and up to seven high altitude, long
endurance maritime surveillance unmanned aerial vehicles (Air 7000/1B). [16.08.10]
(DIAR.com) FIRST UPGRADED ‘ADELAIDE’-CLASS FFG SAILS FOR
MIDDLE EAST: HMAS ‘Melbourne’ - the first of four ‘Adelaide’-class frigates (FFGs)
upgraded under phase 2.1 of project Sea 1390 - has departed Garden Island in Sydney for the Middle East Area of Operations.
The ship will relieve the ‘Anzac’-class frigate, HMAS ‘Parramatta’, which is currently supporting
Operation ‘Slipper’. The Melbourne’s deployment has been enabled by a 1 July ‘Contract Completion
Deed’ signed by Thales Australia and the DMO, even though it is still working under Navy initial operating release and
the expectation that reliability and supportability improvements will ultimately be delivered. Further capability enhancements
part of the original Sea 1390 contract, including the completion of SM-2 surface-to-air missile system modifications, are
planned to be delivered over 2010/11. The Melbourne’s despatch represents the RAN’s 24th fleet unit rotation to
the region since operations commenced in September 2001, and its second deployment following an initial tour to the Middle
East in 2002. A pre-deployment assessment was conducted in July. [16.08.10] (DIAR.com) COALITION UNVEILS DEFENCE POLICIES, WITH PRUDENT PROMISES: At a press conference at Perth’s
War Memorial, the Shadow Minister for Defence, Senator David Johnston, launched the Coalition’s ‘Plan for Real
Action for Australia’s Defence’. He said that despite producing a Defence White Paper in May 2009, the ALP in
government had “failed to produce a credible or coherent plan to fund the highly ambitious list of new acquisitions”.
Johnston noted the earlier Defence Budget Audit (undertaken by Boston Consulting as part of Defence White Paper development),
had found that in order to deliver the Government’s proposed new capabilities, 4.2% annual real budgetary growth would
be required.” The Coalition believes that sustainable resourcing of Defence will “only be possible within a prudent
financial framework”, driving some commentators to speculate that upon assuming government post-21 August, the coalition
would move quickly to revise key elements of the current Defence Capability Plan. [16.08.10] (DIAR.com) PROMINENT BORDER SECURITY ROLE PLANNED FOR ‘GLOBAL HAWK’: Citing Labor’s
March 2009 decision to defer the acquisition of maritime surveillance UAVs to 2019, Senator Johnston said Labor had eroded
its credibility on border protection against the backdrop of “unprecedented” numbers of unauthorised boat arrivals.
As such, upon assuming government the Coalition would move to acquire three ‘Global Hawk’ UAVs air systems in
2015/16 (ie: outside the current Budget forward estimates), in order to provide 24/7, long-range surveillance of Australia’s
borders. As previously reported, the Coalition also plans to provide $4m to resource a Defence Industry Advocate to assist
Australian defence industry in their dealings with the DMO; provide $77.5m towards the provision of free basic health and
dental care to all ADF members and their dependents; restore the integrity of the Gap Year Program via a $75m cash injection
to increase the intake to 1,000 places per year from 2011/12; develop a Defence Reserves Green Paper; and create a new posthumous
service medal (the Governor-General’s Cross). [16.08.10] (DIAR.com) RFT SEEKS MORE CAPABLE ARMY REGIONAL PATROL
CRAFT: The Defence Materiel Organisation’s Amphibious & Afloat Support System Program Office has
released a Request for Tender (RFT) seeking to provide the Australian Army with eleven Tier 2 water craft, and trailers. Regional
Force Surveillance Unit (RFSU) capability for water operations is currently structured around three tiers of mobility assets
reflective of both anticipated operating environments and the management of operational threats. The upper two tiers are not,
however, currently resourced. Tier 2 watercraft (or Regional Patrol Craft - RPCs) will thus provide a capability to operate
in blue, brown, riverine, or brackish waters up to 12 nautical miles offshore, in support of Tier 1 (ie: F470 Zodiacs and
4.4m & 3.8m Dinghies) watercraft. In particular, Tier 2 vessels will be used to insert, extract and support foot patrols
deployed to the area. Four interim RPCs (acquired from Western Boat Builders) are currently in-service in the ADF, with a
further trial craft purchased in 2007 to determine requirements for the Tier 2 capability solicitation. The RFT closes 24
September, with contract signature scheduled for 12 November. [16.08.10] (DIAR.com) BOEING APPOINTS NEW AUSTRALIA-NZ COMMUNICATIONS
DIRECTOR: Boeing has appointed Allison Bone to the role of Communications Director Australia-New Zealand,
based at the Sydney head office of Boeing Australia. Ms Bone succeeds Ken Morton, who has recently assumed responsibility
for Boeing communications across the Asia-Pacific region. She most recently worked as Communications Director with Kathy Jones
& Associates, a Sydney-based provider of communications and project management services. Prior to that, she worked as
Manager Corporate Communications for Qantas. [16.08.10] (DIAR.com) RAAF C-17 EMERGENCY LOAD TO BENEFIT
10,000 FAMILIES IN PAKISTAN: The Department of Defence has confirmed the first delivery of AusAID stores accumulated
for those affected by the recent flooding in Pakistan, has arrived in Islamabad via a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17A
‘Globemaster’ transport. The stores will be distributed to areas as determined by the Pakistan National Disaster
Management Authority. AusAID spokesperson, Suzanne Edgecombe, has indicated the AusAID accumulated stores delivered by the
ADF are expected to benefit more than 10,000 families affected by the natural disaster. [15.08.10] (DIAR.com) SPECIAL FORCES SOLDIER KILLED IN NORTHERN KANDAHAR: The Department of Defence has confirmed
a 29 year old Special Forces soldier serving with the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) in Afghanistan, was killed in action
yesterday. The SOTG was conducting a disruption operation in the Northern Kandahar region with Afghan partners from the Provincial
Response Company, when they were engaged by several insurgents using small arms. Trooper Jason Thomas Brown, from the Perth-based
Special Air Service Regiment, died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds sustained in the engagement. The acting Chief of
the Defence Force, LtGen David Hurley, advised that despite a rapid aeromedical evacuation, Brown was pronounced dead on arrival
at the International Security Assistance Force Kandahar Medical Facility. [14.08.10]
(DIAR.com) ADF EXTENDS ‘HERON’ CONTRACT IN AFGHANISTAN
BY ONE YEAR: Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has confirmed the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has extended
its use of the company’s ‘Heron’ unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Afghanistan for another year, starting
in January 2011. Under project ‘Nankeen’, the RAAF has raised a ‘Heron’-based UAV surveillance capability
leveraging of assets and infrastructure established in Afghanistan by MacDonald Dettwiler & Associates (MDA) under contract
to the Canadian Defence Forces. IAI were contracted (approx US$81m) in August 2008 by the Canadian Ministry of Defence to
provide ‘Heron’ UAVs under its project ‘Noctua’. The contract extension takes the RAAF’s service
through to the time when Canadian forces are due to withdraw from Afghanistan, meaning the RAAF will have to conclude new
separate UAV arrangements, or contract to take over the Canadian infrastructure. IAI is currently training German Air Force
pilots in Israel under the ‘System for Imaging Reconnaissance
in the Depth of the Operating Area’ (SAATEG) program, to operate the one-tonne, medium altitude long endurance ‘Heron’
UAV system in Afghanistan. [13.08.10] ‘BLACK HAWK’ SUFFERS ENGINE PROBLEM OVER EAST
TIMOR: The Department of Defence has confirmed an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) S70 ‘Black
Hawk’ helicopter experienced technical problems yesterday during a routine training exercise, but subsequently landed
safely at Liquica, in East Timor. On experiencing a ‘rotor over-speed problem’, the flight crew is said to have
declared a ‘Mayday’, which was next downgraded to a ‘Pan’ (meaning the aircrew were concerned with the situation, but were not in immediate danger), after which a
safe landing was executed at Comoro airport. As a result of the incident, Defence says the engine of the S70 ‘Black
Hawk’ is undergoing a full inspection. The Australian Army has traditionally supplied the ‘Black Hawk’ helicopter
capability to the ISF since the original 1999 intervention. [13.08.10] (DIAR.com) LABOR FACT SHEET HIGHLIGHTS HOMELAND SECURITY
RECORD: The Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and Home Affairs Minister O’Connor have released a
joint election fact sheet, titled ‘A secure and fair Australia’, in which they outline what the Labor Party in
government has achieved in the area of national security (ie: addressing counter-terrorism, cyber and identity security, border
security, organised crime, emergency management, community safety and law enforcement and recruitment and retention of police),
along with a statement of future challenges in national security affairs, and how they will be addressed. The Government is
scheduled to invest over $4.2 billion in 2010/11 through the Attorney-General’s portfolio on national security, border
and aviation security, counter-terrorism, law enforcement and emergency management. [13.08.10] (DIAR.com) STRATEGIC BORDER MANAGEMENT PLAN EMERGES NINE MONTHS LATE: The campaign document states
that effective inter-agency border protection arrangements consolidated by Labor in the Border Protection Command (BPC), are
set to be further bolstered over 2010 through implementation of Australia’s first Strategic Border Management Plan (originally
expected to be launched in early-2010), thus ensuring relevant border security agencies operate as a coherent whole. The Government
has also belatedly advanced replacements of the Australian Customs & Border Protection Service’s ageing ‘Bay’-class
inshore patrol boats by announcing in the May budget funding approval for the BPC to acquire a new fleet of ‘Cape’-class
patrol vessels, which are anticipated to approach the RAN’s current fleet of project Sea 1444 ‘Fremantle’-class
patrol boats in size (<60m), displacement (<400 tonnes) and capabilities. [13.08.10] (DIAR.com) CIVILIAN MARITIME CAPABILITY PLAN TO TAP FUTURE DEFENCE ASSETS: In relation to maritime
people smuggling, Labor has proposed that in future it would work with Australia’s neighbours to stop asylum seeker
boats before they leave distant ports. Its approach would encompass the development of a regional protection framework - including
a regional processing centre, continued regional co-operation and tough anti-people smuggling laws, including a new offence
for people smuggling ventures that result in deaths. A future Labor government would implement a Civilian Maritime Capability
Plan designed to complement planning by the Department of Defence to ensure border protection agencies have the required assets
to meet future major maritime threats, including illegal foreign fishing and environmental crimes. [13.08.10] (DIAR.com)
SECURITY AGENCY CONSENSUS ON NATIONAL RISKS SOUGHT: Building
on its Counter-Terrorism White Paper, Labor is proposing to develop a first ‘National Security Capability Plan’,
in part to ensure all non-defence national security agencies agree on security risks facing Australia, and the capabilities
required to effectively respond to those risks. Early planning and co-ordination outcomes would work towards the development
of a ‘National Security Fusion Capability’ which would create opportunities to expand and quickly link the information
held by border security, law enforcement and intelligence agencies, to help the fight against organised crime and terrorism.
Building on the previously established ‘Organised Crime Strategic Framework’, a future Labor government will also
establish a new Australian Federal Police-led ‘Asset Confiscation Taskforce’ to maximise confiscations of assets
deemed to be connected to criminal activities. [13.08.10] (DIAR.com)
|
