RAAF Wedgetail contract signed
David Bromage
yesterday. This is probably his last act as Minister.
The RAAF is re-forming No.2 Squadron to operate the Wedgetail.]
The Minister for Defence, John Moore, today signed a partnership statement
with The Boeing Company for the Airborne Early Warning & Control
capability. A contract for four Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft and associated
support for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) was signed at the same
time.
"The AEW&C system will form the cornerstone of Australia's air and
maritime surveillance, and early warning and detection capability, well
into this century," Mr Moore said. "Accurate and timely surveillance is
essential to Australia, regardless of the type of future operation
Australian forces may be required to participate in.
"The finalisation of this contract for the AEW&C capability is a
significant move by Defence to begin implementation of the Defence
Capability Plan (DCP). It is the first of the major acquisitions detailed
in the recently released Defence White Paper, in which the Federal
Government committed to a multi-billion dollar boost to Defence capability
in Australia over the next decade."
Four AEW&C aircraft have been ordered with an option for another three.
Total value of the project is $3 billion. The in-service date for the
first two aircraft will be 2007.
"The DCP has been carefully formulated to provide the Defence Force with
clear, long-term goals for the development of our armed forces and the
funding needed to achieve those goals. Defence must now rise to the task
of implementing this plan," Mr Moore said.
"The AEW&C system is a strategically important capability that will make a
major contribution to Australia's air combat capability, significantly
multiplying the combat power of the upgraded F/A-18 fleet.
"The system will improve command and control, and the capacity for air
defence of surface ships. It also will enhance Australia's strike
capability.
"Importantly it will also provide support to Coastwatch activities, as it
will be capable of covering four million square kilometres during a single
10 hour mission - that's the equivalent of Darwin to Perth and back
again."
The AEW&C platform is based on Boeing's highly successful 737 aircraft,
the biggest-selling aircraft in the world. Australian industry will be
participating in the project, contributing work to the value of around
$400 million.
A further $800 million in strategic industry development activities is
also possible. These include training and skills transfer, collaborative
ventures, defence infrastructure development, research and development
projects, and export sales.
Mr Moore said he was pleased to also announce today that Air Commodore
Norm Gray has been appointed Head, Airborne Early Warning and Control
Project (HAEW&C), and promoted to Air Vice Marshall.
The AEW&C fleet will be based at RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales,
with a detachment operating from RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern
Territory.
Background Notes: Australia's AEW&C capability
* After one of the most rigorous assessments ever carried out by Defence,
the Boeing Wedgetail aircraft is seen as providing the best capability and
value for money for Australia's needs.
* The contract signed today requires Boeing Space and Communications to
provide four Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft with the option for another three.
* It also includes the supply of an Operational Flight Trainer for pilot
training, and Operational Mission Simulator for operator training,
associated mission support equipment and logistics support, and the
building of an AEW&C Support Centre at Williamtown, NSW.
* The Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft is based on the proven Boeing 737
commercial airliner. The radar being developed by Northrop Grumman will be
state-of-the-art and have significant growth potential. The Wedgetail
mission systems will utilise commercial off-the-shelf technology that will
enhance future development and capability.
* The in-service date for the first two aircraft will be 2007.
* Boeing and its radar supplier Northrop Grumman have extensive experience
with AEW&C aircraft and have built systems for the United States, United
Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia, NATO and Japan.
* Boeing's Australian partners include Boeing Australia Limited (BAL),
British Aerospace Systems Australia (BAES) and Qantas. Boeing Australia
will be responsible for the Operational Flight Trainer and involved in
logistics support, fleet management and through-life support.
* BAES is primarily responsible for electronic support measures and
self-protection systems as well as the Operational Mission Simulator and
mission support systems. QANTAS will provide maintenance support for the
aircraft.
* Work to be done by Australian industry for the AEW&C aircraft amounts to
around $400m. In addition, more than $800m worth of strategic industry
development activities have been identified. These include training and
skills transfer, collaborative ventures, defence infrastructure
development, research and development projects and export sales.
* The AEW&C Project has been leading the way for reform within the Defence
Materiel Organisation, with an innovative tender and selection process
involving close liaison with the Defence Science and Technology
Organisation (DSTO) and the Air Force, and close interaction with Boeing
as a part of Integrated Product Teams during the development and
production phase will lead to Australia acquiring a world class AEW&C
capability.
* Risk reduction has been paramount in the development of the project to
date and emphasis has been placed on incorporating the lessons learnt from
previous large acquisition projects.
* The project will be headed at the two star level and continuity of
project personnel will be maintained. Regular reviews have and will
continue to be undertaken, and the Project will report to Government on a
regular basis.
* The AEW&C fleet will be based at RAAF Base Williamtown in New South
Wales, with a detachment operating from RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern
Territory. The project involves infrastructure development at both bases,
including hangars and headquarters buildings, and is expected to bring up
to $50m and 250 jobs to the Hunter Region.
* The aircraft will be operated by No 2 Squadron, which has a
distinguished history including World War One, World War Two and Vietnam.
* RAAF personnel are already training on AEW&C aircraft in the United
States and the United Kingdom, to ensure the full capability of the
Wedgetail aircraft will be realised at an early stage in its operation.
Wedgetail: Facts & Figures
Aircraft Performance:
Operating Empty Weight 48,308 kg
Maximum Takeoff Weight 77,565 kg
Maximum Landing Weight 60,782 kg
Maximum Operating Altitude 12,500 m
Nominal Operating Altitude 9000 to 12000 m
Maximum Dash Speed 870 kph True Airspeed (M 0.78)
Nominal Cruise Speed 760 kph True Airspeed
Endurance 10 hours (without Air-To-Air Refuelling)
Aircraft:
737-700 Next Generation Increased Gross Weight
Auxiliary Fuel Tanks
Air-To-Air Refuelling receptacle and removable probe
Crew rest facilities
10 Mission Consoles
Self-Contained Exit Stairs
Modified CFM56-7 Engines with 180 kVA Generators
Mode S IFF Transponder
Instrument Landing System to CAT II
Cockpit Heads Up Display
Cargo Space for deployment support equipment
Radar:
Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array Radar
Range in excess of 400 km
Electronic Warfare Self Protection:
Directed Infra-Red Counter Measures
Chaff & Flares
ALR 2001
Communications:
HF, VHF, UHF
LINK-11 & LINK-16
UHF SATCOM and ICS
Aircraft Dimensions:
Length 33.6 m
Wingspan 34.3 m
Height 12.6m
A Morgan
Cheers.
David Bromage <dbro...@fang.omni.com.au> wrote in message
news:I5U%5.1489$Le6....@news0.optus.net.au...
A Morgan
A Morgan <ja...@powerup.com.au> wrote in message news:3a403e80@grissom...
> Is there any final date for the 3 (or part thereof) options to be taken
up?
>
> Cheers.
Quotes from Mr Moore seem to indicate 2007 or 2008 as about the time when
the decision would be made. In an article he says:
"We are very mindful of the risk factor. The submarine saga burned deeply,"
he said. "I believe that once the four are here and operating, the remaining
three will be picked up"
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