D efence
Tindal's billion dollar work plan untainted by COVID-19
opportunity for local suppliers to be involved while providing value-for-money to the Commonwealth," he said. A planned hearing to be based on Katherine on April 21 was instead conducted as a teleconference as works move through the lengthy approval process.
First of Class Flight Trials
Once upgrades are complete, RAAF Tindal is expected to house some of the RAAF’s 72 new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets, as well as US long-range bombers.
The giant cash splash at the Tindal RAAF Base is set to continue on-schedule despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The upgrades will be Tindal's most significant for 40 years as the RAAF base prepares to house an expanded range of military planes and equipment as well as serve as a base for collaboration with US forces in the Indo-Pacific region. An estimated $773 million of the package is for a reenforcement and extension of Tindal's existing runway to 3.3 kilometres long, while other works will include expanded accommodation facilities, an above-ground replacement for military control bunkers and an enormous 'fuel-farm' to contain 6 Olympic swimming pools worth of fuel. The Tindal RAAF base is considered Australia's most vital for defending our Northern borders due to its ideal position 300 kilometres inland providing adequate warning of any attack. Following a request for clarification by the Katherine Times, the Defence Department released a transcript of Brigadier Matt Galton's comments to the recent Senate inquiry. "There is currently no impact on Defence's proposed works at RAAF Base Tindal due to COVID-19," Brig. Galton said. "Pending Parliamentary approval, the current early procurement activities will enable initial construction to commence from around September 2020, with the full program of works scheduled to be delivered over the subsequent seven years with completion by late-2027. "This schedule was planned prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 and has not been slowed down or extended by the pandemic. "Defence has extended the tendering period to a minimum seven-week period to give industry sufficient time to prepare their submissions and source supply during the current uncertainties. Otherwise, we do not see any immediate impacts on this project. "Defence's managing contractor, Lendlease, has developed a Local Industry Capability Plan that articulates how they will engage with local industry and maximise 60
Navy’s cutting-edge platforms have combined, with the 230-metre long Landing Helicopter Dock HMAS Adelaide embarking an MH-60R ‘Romeo’ helicopter for first-of-class flight trials off Australia’s eastern coast. Adelaide is carrying out the trials with the aircraft from 816 Squadron in Nowra, NSW to establish new safe operating limits. Personnel from Navy’s Aircraft Maintenance and Flight Trials Unit (AMAFTU) are collecting real-time data on the different ways an MH-60R can approach and land on Adelaide’s flight deck in certain weather conditions at sea with a particular focus on warm and humid environments. Adelaide is one of two Canberra-class Landing Helicopters Docks based at Fleet Base East in Sydney, while the MH60R is one of 24 anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare helicopters based at the Fleet Air Arm in Nowra. 808 Squadrons MRH-90 helicopter ‘MIDNIGHT’ prepares for landing onboard HMAS Adelaide as she departs Sydney for First of Class Flight Trials. ABIS Jarrod Mulvhill.
