Australia’s latest defence capability plan
(DCP), released July 1, reveals plans to
upgrade or replace three types of helicopters
in service with the country’s Defence Force
(ADF). In particular, it looks at modernizing
the mission equipment to its Eurocopter
Tiger fleet, “to ensure the Australian
Tigers retain currency with operational
requirements.” The new DCP predicts a
“new phase—or phases—to maintain the
effectiveness of the capability. This project is
expected to provide system upgrades to the
Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH),
consistent with the parent Franco-German
Tiger program.
“The upgrades may include weapons,
engines, software, aircraft mission management system and ground support system
upgrades.” The package is expected to cost
between A$100 million and A$500 million ($80m to $400m). The DCP says that
“Defense will commence work on developing this phase for government consideration
after 2016.” Last month the Australian DoD
flagged more specific modifications to the
Tigers, to improve their interoperability
with the army’s battlefield command-and-control system. DoD officials told Australian Senate defense budget hearings that
the modifications include improved data-
linking, to support transfer of targeting and
situational awareness.
Australia remains in the delivery phase
for its Tiger fleet. Twelve ARHs are currently
in service with six more under assembly, at
Australian Aerospace at Brisbane, and four
more to come. Two squadrons, the 161st
and 162nd, have been formed at Darwin as
part of the Army’s new ARH regiment.
If, as widely predicted, France sends
some of its own Hélicoptère d’Appui Protection (HAP)-variant Tigers to Afghanistan, Australia is expected to send at least
one observer to join them. If the political
decision is taken, an initial three aircraft from the ALAT (Aviation Légère de
l’Armée de Terre) 4th Airmobile Brigade
will be dispatched.
The HAP combat support Tiger is
said to be “technically and operationally”
ready for deployment, with two years of
operational training with the elite 4th
Brigade under its belt. The DCP also sets
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) dates
for new Royal Australian Navy (RAN)
Seahawks and F-model Chinooks for the
Army. Australia wants to achieve IOC
with its replacement Seahawks for both
the cancelled Kaman SH-2G (A) Seasprite
and existing S-70B- 2 fleets between 2014
and 2016. First pass approval (initial
agreement) to procure 24 Sikorsky MH-
60Rs is scheduled for between now and
mid-2011. Second pass—formal acquisition approvals—should happen between
mid-2010 and mid-2012.
The new aircraft will replace RAN’s 16
existing Seahawks, which are scheduled
to be withdrawn from service by 2019.
The acquisition is forecast to cost between
A$500 million and A$1.5 billion ($400m
to $1.2bn). The Army will not achieve
IOC with its seven new Boeing CH-47F
Chinooks before 2016. In the meantime,
it plans to issue tenders later this year for a
deeper maintenance support capability for
its six existing CH-47D aircraft. The DCP
says that government approvals to proceed
with the CH-47F acquisition may not
occur until mid-2012. This is despite Australia lodging a $560-million Foreign Military Sales (FMS) acquisition application for
the aircraft with the U.S. DoD in April.
While FMS remains the planned purchase mechanism, the DCP says that the
Australian industry is expected to realize
work opportunities on the new aircraft
through “design and fitment of additional
mission equipment to the CH-47F, once
they are delivered to Australia.”
CONTRACTS
Tyonek Fabrication Corp., Madison,
Ala., was awarded a $5.7-million contract
for the OH-58 Kiowa airframe for 340 each,
control box, part number 635107M100.
Work is to be performed in Madison, with
an estimated completion date of May 31,
2012. Tyonek was also awarded a $6.9-mil-
lion contract for 344 each, de-ice control
and indicator unit for the UH-60 A/L
Blackhawk. Work will also be performed
in Madison, with an estimated completion
date of Nov. 30, 2011.
Bell Helicopter Textron, Hurst, Texas,
was awarded a $51.5-million contract for
the purchase of five 412EP aircraft along
with logistical support, spare parts package,
special tools, and training. Work is to be
performed in Quebec, Canada (88 percent),
Piney Flats, Tenn., ( 8 percent) and Fort
Worth, Texas ( 4 percent), with an estimated
completion date of Dec. 31, 2010.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford,
Conn., was awarded a $60.4-million contract for the procurement of four UH-60L
aircraft uniquely configured of the Brazilian
Air Force. Work is to be performed in Stratford with an estimated completion date of
Nov. 30, 2012.
Lockheed Martin Corp., Owego, N. Y.,
was awarded a $13.9-million contract for the
procurement of specialized test equipment
used to perform depot-level repairs to the
common cockpit avionics suite components
for the MH-60. The equipment consist of
one audio management computer, one relay
assembly, one flight management computer,
one mission computer, and the communication systems controller testers. Work will be
performed in San Diego, Calif. ( 50 percent),
Owego ( 25 percent) and Farmingdale, N. Y.
( 25 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2010.
