First Pass Approval for Three Major Australian Defence Capability Projects

[Someoneforyou]

Anzac Ship Electronic Support System Upgrade, Enhanced ADF Telecommunications Networks, and Special Operations Capability Vehicle Enhancements
AUSTRALIA - 15 FEBRUARY 2011

The Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith MP, and the Minister for Defence Materiel, Jason Clare MP, announced today that the Government has given First Pass Approval for three major Defence capability projects: upgrades to the Anzac class frigates' electronic support systems; enhancements to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) telecommunications networks; and enhancements to the ADF's Special Operations vehicles and communications.

These three projects combined are estimated to involve expenditure of between $500 million and around $1 billion by the time they are complete.

Anzac Ship Electronic Support System Upgrade

The Government has agreed to upgrade the Anzac class frigates' electronic support systems, through Project Sea 1448 Phase 4A, as a complementary capability within the ongoing Anzac anti-ship missile defence program.

Project Sea 1448 Phase 4A is cost capped between $100 million and $300 million. The Government is expected to make a final decision on approval for the project in the period 2012 to 2013.

The electronic support system upgrade will provide the Anzac class frigates with the ability to detect, classify and locate the latest generation of maritime and aircraft radars, as well as the latest anti-ship missiles.

This upgrade will give the Royal Australian Navy's Anzac class frigates a greater level of operational flexibility within the rapidly increasing complexity of modern radar systems. It will also improve the ability of the frigates to support the Navy's future Air Warfare Destroyer capability.

Enhanced Telecommunications Networks for the ADF

Enhancement of the ADF's fixed telecommunications networks, to be undertaken through Joint Project 2047 Phase 3, will enhance Defence's information and communications technology (ICT) services.

Joint Project 2047 Phase 3 is cost capped between $300 million and $500 million. The Government is expected to make a final decision on approval for the project in 2011-2012.

The Defence telecommunications network includes 330 sites in Australia supporting some 100,000 users in Australia and overseas. The project will significantly improve network performance and meet capability requirements into the 2020's.

Enhancements to Special Operations Vehicles and Communications

The Government has also given first pass approval for Joint Project 2097 Phase 1B to enhance the Australian Defence Force's Special Operations vehicle capability.

The project will deliver a modern fleet of tactical Special Operations Vehicles and will provide significant improvements to the Special Forces' networked communications.

Joint Project 2097 Phase 1B is cost capped between $100 million and $300 million. The Government is expected to make a final decision on approval for the project in 2013-14.

The enhancements to be delivered under JP 2097 Phase 1B will support the tactical manoeuvre of Special Forces and improve the efficiency of tactical network communications across the full spectrum of Special Operations. The vehicles will be highly mobile and able to be transported in a range of ADF aircraft and ships allowing the ADF's Special Forces to maintain its capability edge.


Source: Australian Government, Department of Defence

 

[Someoneforyou]

Babcock AWD torpedo launcher contract
14 FEBRUARY 2011

Assembly of the Mk32 Mod 9 torpedo launchers for the Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyers is now underway at Babcock's Techport Australia premises, marking an important milestone in the contract. Babcock Pty Ltd, part of Babcock International Group, was awarded the contract in December 2008 by Raytheon Australia Pty Ltd, on behalf of the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Alliance.

Two Mk32 Mod 9 torpedo launcher assemblies will be mounted in magazine compartments, port and starboard, on each of the three Hobart class AWDs. Originally designed for the US Navy, the Mod 9 launcher is a twin barrelled variant of the Mk32 launchers currently in operation on Anzac and FFG frigates in Australia and will be modified to discharge Eurotorp MU90 torpedoes.

Babcock engineers and technicians are now commencing assembly of the launchers, which will take around seven months for all six launchers (three ship sets), and will be followed by Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) of each set at Babcock's newly developed facility at Techport, South Australia. FAT will involve safety and interlock checks and the measurement of additional system parameters during the discharge of a dummy weapon from the launchers into a specially designed rig.

Under the contract to date, the first phase has seen Babcock working closely with the US Naval Underwater Weapons Centre at Rhode Island, and transfer of a technical data pack to Australia under a license granted by the US Department of State, in accordance with appropriate US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). The data pack provides the basis for the procurement, manufacture, assembly and test of the equipment in Australia. Babcock now has the system and processes in place to handle ITAR controlled design information and procure ITAR controlled hardware through its US network.

Manufacture of component parts, including barrels, quadrants, breech locking rings, and air charging panels, as well as a number of major sub-assemblies, has also been on-going during the first phase of the contract. While some equipment has been sourced from specialist international suppliers, all other work is being carried out in Australia, representing around 60% of the contract value.

"Having the component parts and sub-assemblies arrive at our Techport Australia site, and starting the assembly process, marks an exciting and important milestone in this contract," Babcock director Pat Donovan comments. "Delivery of the completed launchers is on track against our project schedule, and ahead of the customer's required delivery date of September 2011 for the first ship set."

Babcock is providing a complete weapons handling and launch system from stowage to launcher for the Hobart Class AWDs, having also been awarded the contract to supply the Weapon Handling and Stowage System (WHSS) by ASC, on behalf of the AWD Alliance, last year.

Babcock has over 30 years' experience in the design and manufacture of torpedo launch and handling systems for both surface ship and submarine platforms worldwide, including having supplied torpedo tubes and weapon launch systems for Australia's Collins Class submarines, with over 70% of the manufacture of this equipment managed by Babcock locally in Australia. Babcock has continued to invest in and develop its Australian business, and has a team encompassing a mix of staff recruited from within Australia and the UK, offering engineering design, programme management, in-service support and specialist analysis.


Source: Babcock International Group PLC