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BATTLESPACE DEFENCE NEWS ROUNDUP

HMAS ANZAC back in the water after AMCAP upgrade

The second RAN ANZAC class frigate to go through the Project SEA 1442 Phase 4/4B ANZAC Midlife Capability Assurance Program (AMCAP) has returned to the water after completing the upgrade.

HMAS Anzac joins HMAS Arunta which completed its comprehensive AMCAP upgrade in 2019 and recently completed sea trials. HMAS Anzac (right) sporting its new faceted Base West after its AMCAP upgrade. ADF

Canadian Hornet upgrade package approved

A US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notification has said the US State Department has approved the sale of a comprehensive package of advanced weapons and systems to Canada to upgrade some of its fleet of CF-18 Hornets.

The package is valued at US$862m (A$1.26bn), and includes 38 Raytheon AN/ APG-79(V)4 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars and 46 wideband radomes to accommodate the new radar. The (V)4 is a scaled down version of the Super Hornet’s radar adapted for the classic Hornet’s smaller fuselage cross-section and radome.

The package also includes new software to allow the integration of the new systems, and the installation of an Automated Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS) like that integrated with USAF F-16s and F-35As.

The weapons package includes 50 AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles to replace the current AIM-9M models carried by the CF-18, 20 AIM-154C JSOW precision glide bombs, and associated training and captive carry rounds, weapons racks, and mission planning systems.

Canada took delivery of its first CF-18s in 1982, and maintains some 80 CF-18s

mast joins HMAS Arunta at HMAS Stirling Fleet from a fleet that once totalled 138 jets.

Despite acquiring 25 former RAAF F/A18A/Bs to augment its fleet, only enough aircraft for two RCAF squadrons will be equipped with the new weapons and systems. It is not known if any of the former RAAF jets will be upgraded.

The DSCA notice says, “This sale will provide Canada a 2-squadron bridge of enhanced F/A-18A aircraft to continue meeting NORAD and NATO commitments while it gradually introduces new advanced aircraft via the Future Fighter Capability Program between 2025 and 2035.”

Paul Chase confirmed as Leidos Australia CEO

Leidos Australia’s acting CEO, Paul Chase has been appointed to the role in a permanent capacity, effective June 15.

An engineer also with a masters degree in law, Mr Chase was appointed as acting CEO in March upon the departure of Christine Zeitz. He has been with the

CANADIAN FORCES

company for more than 20 years in program management and new business roles.

“I’m honoured to be named Chief Executive for Leidos Australia,” Mr Chase said in a statement. “With the team, we will continue to grow our Australian business by focusing on helping our customers to deliver their mission.”

GBU-53/B StormBreaker integrated with Super Hornet

Raytheon Missiles & Defense has announced it has completed the first guided release of a GBU-53/B StormBreaker precision guided bomb from a US Navy F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet.

Previously known as the Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II), the tri-mode StormBreaker has been designed to be able to hit moving targets such as vehicles and small boats, while still being effective against fixed targets.

“StormBreaker is the only weapon that enables pilots to hit moving targets during bad weather or if dust and smoke are in the area,” Raytheon’s StormBreaker program director, Cristy Stagg said in a statement. “Super Hornet pilots will be able to use poor visibility to their advantage when StormBreaker integration is complete.”

The Super Hornet is the second aircraft to be integrated with the weapon after the Boing F-15E Strike Eagle. Because of its compact size, up to eight StormBreakers can be carried on an external weapons rack, and the F-15E can carry at least two such racks.

The announcement coincides with US media reports that production of the GBU-53/B has been paused since July 2019 after the discovery of technical issues with clips that hold the weapon’s folded wings. The wings deploy after launch, allowing the weapon to glide more than 100km depending on launch parameters.

A report in DefenseNews cites a US Government Accountability Office (DAO) report that states the issue has delayed the fielding of the weapon, and that a retrofit for nearly 600 weapons already delivered to the USAF and US Navy is being developed.

“While this problem could affect all aircraft carrying the bomb, officials said the greatest impact is to the F-35, because the bomb is carried in the aircraft’s internal weapons bay and could cause serious damage if the fins deploy while the bomb is in the bay,” the GAO reports states.

Australia was approved to acquire 3,900 GBU-53/Bs for the RAAF’s F-35As in 2017, but it is not known if any have been delivered yet.

Army’s first Boxer CRV. ADF The GBU-53/B Stormbreaker. RAYTHEON

Bisalloy steel certified by German Govt for Rheinmetall vehicles

Australia’s Bisalloy Steel Group has been certified by the German Government as being suitable to provide steel plating for armoured vehicles manufactured by Rheinmetall.

The certification of its initial O-grade armour comes after two years of research, development and testing of its armour steel products conducted in collaboration with Rheinmetall Defence Australia.

The O-grade armour has been assessed by the German testing authority (BAAINBw) as being suitable for integration with the Boxer 8×8 CRV being acquired by the Australian Army for its LAND 400 Phase 2 requirement, and for export customers. A stronger Z-grade armour is also in development for the Boxer, and final testing of this grade is scheduled for July in Germany.

“Bisalloy is proud to have achieved this critical milestone after significant investment in research, development and testing of armour steel alongside our partners Bluescope Steel and Rheinmetall,” Bisalloy Steel Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Greg Albert said in a statement. “Our work with Rheinmetall will ensure Bisalloy’s capabilities have created the best possible protection for the Australian soldier but also significant export opportunities for Australia.”

The certification of the steel for the Boxer not only bolsters Rheinmetall’s Australian Industry Capability (AIC) credentials for LAND 400 Phase 2, but also enhances Bisalloy’s reputation as a world-class manufacturer of steel armour and the possibility of being integrated with other armoured vehicles.

RAAF considering more A330s for MRTT conversion

The RAAF is reportedly considering acquiring two more Airbus A330-200s airliners and converting them to KC-30A multi role tanker transports (MRTT).

The RAAF’s initial five KC-30s were new-build aircraft delivered in 2011 and 2012, and these have since been joined in service by two more aircraft – both former Qantas and Jetstar airliners converted and delivered to the RAAF in 2018 and 2019.

While no actual airframes of interest have been identified, they are believed to be Qantas A330-203s. Most are currently stored as redundant to requirements due to the drastic reduction in international and domestic travel brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

While most of Qantas’s A330-200s are of a similar age and block build to the RAAF’s seven current KC-30As, there are still some configuration differences. The initial new-build airframe commonality the four original, new-build aircraft,

with Qantas’s airliners was intentional: at the start of the Project AIR 5402 envisaged that the then Qantas Defence Services – now part of Northrop Grumman Australia – would not only perform the conversion work on all but one of the MRTTs, but also support and sustain aircraft in service.

Conversion work on the first two former airliners was not without its complications due to their age, configuration differences, and some of the more invasive MRTT modifications required. Meanwhile, the QDS/Northrop Grumman workforce that converted

ADF program, which resulted in the MRTT, it was had long-been dispersed so the conversions of these extra two additional jets was undertaken by Airbus in Spain and Germany.

ADBR understands there are varying levels of enthusiasm for the latest proposal. Qantas would obviously be keen to offload its excess capacity and to possibly engage some of its skilled Brisbane-based heavy maintenance workforce in a local conversion program.

Airbus as OEM and Northrop Grumman, as the RAAF’s platform steward, are reportedly willing to study the proposal further to see if the conversion work could be performed at Northrop Grumman’s Brisbane Airport facility by a joint industry/ airline workforce.

While the RAAF would obviously be eager to add to its tanker transport force, it reportedly has reservations due to the age of the airliners – the youngest of which is about 12 years – and the cost of conversion in a likely tightening fiscal environment.

RAAF conducts remote UAS control trial from C-130J

The RAAF has successfully demonstrated its ability to remotely control an unmanned aerial system (UAS) by piloting a Sky Ranger R70 quad-rotor UAS from a C-130J Hercules of 37SQN.

The trial was conducted at RAAF Edinburgh in conjunction with 3 Security Forces Squadron (3SECFOR) which operated the UAS. It proved the ability to operate a UAS via the C-130J’s onboard wide-band Satellite Communications

3SECFOR personnel with the Sky Ranger R70 quad-rotor UAS. ADF

(SATCOM) link and provide still and video imagery from the UAS, a key plank of the RAAF’s Plan Jericho which aims to provide extended secure networks to bolster the ADF’s capabilities by increasing situational awareness via datalink from remote sensors.

“This trial is the first time that airborne control UAS has been attempted from a C-130J Hercules,” RAAF SQNLDR Peter Cunningham said in a statement. “We used our wide-band satellite communication systems to provide a link to the UAS controller on the C-130J beyond the line of sight, and received video from the UAS throughout the flight.

“Working together with different skillsets and stakeholders such as 3SECFOR, Army and Plan Jericho has shown how we can be responsive to meet the needs of Air Force in pretty short order.”

SATCOM along with other communications and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities – including Litening AT EO/IR pods formerly fitted to RAAF F/A-18A/B Hornet fighters – is being rolled out to the RAAF’s C-130J fleet through the Plan Jericho initiative. The remote UAS activity also captured overarching video of the trial from the C-130J’s wing-mounted Litening pod.

“With this sort of technology, we can see much further and be more distant from our targets, while still getting a comprehensive understanding of the ground in front of us through a streamlined information feed,” CORP Mitchell Blight said.

“Be proactive, network with other units and you will find like-minded people who are willing to help,” UAS operator LAC Rhys Mitting added. “You need to be motivated, hardworking and you need to contact Jericho.”

ANDREW McLAUGHLIN Introductory Fighter Course with 76SQN. in Virginia and NAS Whidbey Island in Washington state, respectively. This arrangement was implemented in 2015 after to be realised through an Australianbased operational conversion, such as improved delivery of Australian-trained aircrew back into the squadrons, increased standardisation, reduction in duplicate training overheads and increased alignment to Australian graduation requirements.”

While some RAAF Super Hornet training will continue with the US Navy, it will look to streamline the conversion training process locally for some crews coming from the

“As a former military pilot, I understand the mission of this great corporation to provide global security and innovative solutions for the brave men and women who protect our freedom,” Mr Taiclet said in a company statement. “I come into this role at a time when our nation and its allies have been tested globally by new and emerging threats. Now more than ever, it’s critical we continue to deliver the best systems and equipment in the world.

“I’m honoured to succeed Marillyn, who is rightfully one of the most respected CEOs in America, and to lead a workforce that is inventing and advancing the technology

RAAF 82WG stands up Super Hornet training flight

The RAAF’s 82 Wing (82WG), which oversees the operations of the F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft of 1 and 6SQNs has stood up 82 Wing Training Flight (82TF) at Amberley as part a two-year trial to provide Super Hornet conversion training in Australia.

Currently RAAF crews converting to the Super Hornet and Growler do so with the US Navy at NAS Oceana 6SQN – the RAAF’s former Super Hornet training unit – converted to the Growler and transferred all of its Super Hornets to 1SQN.

At the same time, the expanded 1SQN stood up a third ‘training’ flight within the squadron to conduct refreshers and upgrades, but this responsibility will be transferred to 82TF.

“This program will enable No. 82 Wing to provide enduring aircrew training for the entire capability spectrum required for the F/A-18F,” OC82TF and XO82WG, Wing Commander Trevor Andrews said in a release. “We expect significant advantages

and security of our future.” This has advantages by immediately going to Australian-specific radio and airspace procedures and Australian concepts of operations, none of which are taught by the US Navy.

Most of the RAAF’s Super Hornets don’t have a stick and throttle quadrant in the rear seat, and are instead typically configured for sensor operation and weapons employment. But all Super Hornets can quickly be reconfigured with a stick and throttle to meet training requirements.

Lockheed Martin appoints James Taiclet as new

President and CEO Lockheed Martin has announced the appointment of James Taiclet as president and CEO, succeeding Marillyn Hewson who has served in the roles since 2013. Ms Hewson will stay on as executive chairman of the board and to support the transition.

Mr Taiclet is a former USAF pilot, was a consultant at McKinsey & Company, vice president Engine Services at Pratt & Whitney, president of Honeywell Aerospace Services, and established American Tower Corporation in 2003.

Penten opens new Canberra office

In the challenging world of cyber security, Canberra company Penten is establishing a growing reputation by selling its advanced technology to the Australian and UK governments, and to others.

From just four employees five years ago, Penten now has 80, and with growth comes the need for more space. To this end, the company has moved into the new University of NSW Canberra collaborative precinct, ‘Launch on Northbourne’ at 216 Northbourne Ave in Braddon as an anchor tenant.

Penten CEO Matthew Wilson said the company was delivering world-leading security technology to defence forces and governments in Australia, the UK, Canada and New Zealand.

“Defence and our customers around the world are asking more of us. Our investment here at Launch on Northbourne allows us to meet these needs,” he said at the launch. “It also allows us to extend our commitment to collaboration with Defence, UNSW Canberra and the Australian defence cyber and space partners in industry and academia.”

Wilson said the cyber threat was certainly growing, but there was now a good understanding of defences. He said that, in previous years Australia had been playing catch-up, but now the cyber capability in government and industry was coordinated and collaborative.

“As we have rushed through and developed and taken advantage of digitalisation of a lot of these capabilities, our ability to digitally defend those capabilities really is only now just keeping pace,” he said. “Yes there is a lot of work we need to do. Yes there

is a lot we need to think about in the context of the threat landscape.

“As we build our sovereign Australian cyber defence industry and we see government really engaging with that industry to …force multiply the effects they are trying to achieve, we are genuinely moving in a direction where we are getting on top of this.”

“The ACT Government is committed to supporting our defence, space and cyber industries, which play a key role in diversifying the ACT economy, attracting more investment and creating more jobs for Canberra.”

Penten founder and director Ben Whitham said, “We are focused on building things that are globally unique, not just for the Australian market. We are interested in building things that solve difficult problems or problems that haven’t been solved before and focused primarily on government markets.”

New Zealand confirms C-130J acquisition

The New Zealand government has confirmed its intention to buy five Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Hercules transports to replace its ageing fleet of five C-130Hs.

The confirmation by Defence Minister Ron Mark comes after New Zealand announced its intention to buy the aircraft in June 2019 to coincide with the release of its Defence Capability Plan. The foreign military sale (FMS) was approved by the US State Department in November 2019.

“Last year, Cabinet selected these aircraft as the preferred option to replace the current Hercules fleet. Procurement of the Super Hercules has been my highest capability priority as Minister of Defence,” Mr Mark said. “Generations of New Zealanders have grown up and grown old with the Hercules, and they know these aircraft are an essential first line of response. This decision ensures the Defence Force will have the capability it needs to meet expected future tasks.”

Valued at NZ$1.521bn (A$1.42bn) includes the aircraft, a full mission simulator, and other supporting infrastructure. The new aircraft will be equipped with a wide bandwidth, high speed satellite communications (SATCOM) system, and an electro-optical/infrared EO/IR turret under the nose radome.

“This equipment will make our new Super Hercules among the most capable in the world,” Mr Mark added. “The satellite communications system will allow imagery, video and data to be streamed in real-time, and the camera allows for aerial surveillance, including at the same time as the aircraft is undertaking transport tasks, particularly useful on humanitarian and disaster relief operations and search and rescue missions.”

The first C-130Js are scheduled to be delivered in 2024 and 2025, while options for the replacement of the RNZAF’s two Boeing 757 transports are due to be considered in 2021 for service entry later in the decade.

Babcock to offer Bell 429 for Army Special Ops helo

Babcock Australasia has announced it will offer the Bell 429 for the Australian Army’s Project LAND 2097 Phase 4 special operations support helicopter requirement.

To be operated by 6 Aviation Regiment (6Avn) at Holsworthy in Sydney, the capability will support the larger MRH 90 helicopter in service by providing a military or commercial-off-the-shelf and rapidlydeployable light helicopter capable of operating in low threat and built-up urban environments.

Babcock had been considering the twin-engined Bell 429 and the smaller single-engined Bell 407 for its bid, but says the B429 is the most suitable helicopter for the requirement.

An artist’s concept of an RNZAF C-130J-30 with the SATCOM antenna and EO/IR turret. NZ GOVT

A former RAN RMI2 Bell 429. ADF

“The Bell 429 has a relatively new paramilitary design, with high levels of safety, role flexibility and performance that will meet the demands of Australian Special Forces,” Babcock Australasia’s Managing Director – Land, Graeme Nayler said in a statement. “Working together, Babcock and Bell draw on a global track record of successful helicopter operations to deliver a trusted solution.

“Babcock has put the customer first in selecting a reliable, adaptable solution that will remain responsive to the needs of our Special Forces,” he added. “The ADF requires absolute confidence in its Special Operations helicopters capability together with cost-effective customisation and ongoing sustainment. Our solution is trusted to deliver.”

The Bell 429 has been successfully missionised for coast guard, ambulance, police and other para-public requirements worldwide. The type has also previously served in a limited capacity in the ADF, with Raytheon Australia operating four B429s on lease to the RAN for the second iteration of the Retention & Motivation Initiative (RMI 2) at HMAS Albatross from 2012 to 2018.

RMI 2’s B429s replaced the AgustaWestland A109Es operated under RMI 1 from 2007 to 2012, and both types successfully maintained pilot proficiency and training throughput for the Fleet Air Arm during Navy’s protracted transition to the MRH 90, MH-60R Romeo Seahawk and Airbus H135 helicopters during that period.

“As one of the world’s leading helicopter manufacturers, Bell is in a strong position to offer reliable, cost-effective global support for the ongoing maintenance and sustainment of the ADF’s Special Operations helicopter fleet,” Bell’s Managing Director Asia Pacific, David Sale said. “The Bell 429 is rugged and reliable. It is operationally robust and favoured by pilots and crew throughout the world with more than 330 aircraft exceeding 330,000 hours of operation.

“With an open architecture system and global support in place, the Bell 429 Global Ranger has the capacity to perform consistently and adapt rapidly to new technologies and evolving requirements.”

Babcock and its B429 will be pitted against Airbus’s H145M for LAND 2097 Phase 4, while Hawker Pacific is also believed to be considering both the B429 and B407GX as well. Responses to the RFT are due to be submitted in July, with down-select and contract signature scheduled in 2021/22, for service entry in 2023.

Major defence trade shows postponed

The organisers of the biennial PACIFIC International Maritime Exposition have announced that the show originally scheduled for August 2021 has been deferred to 2022.

To be renamed INDO-PACIFIC International Maritime Exposition 2022 to better reflect increasing naval capabilities and influence in Australia’s wider region, the show will now be held in May 2022, with the exact dates to be confirmed.

The announcement came shortly after the LAND FORCES 2020 – which had been scheduled for this September – was postponed to 1-3 June 2021 due to travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2021 Australian International Airshow at Avalon originally scheduled for 23-28 February 2021 was postponed to 23-28 November 2021..

In summary, the revised dates for all three shows are: LAND FORCES 2021 – 1-3 June 2021 AVALON 2021 – 23-28 November 2021 INDO-PACIFIC 2022 – TBA May 2022