Defence

BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS IN THE PACIFIC

Indo-Pacific Endeavour 21 (IPE21) is Australia’s flagship regional engagement activity, reinforcing Australia’s strong and enduring partnerships in Southeast Asia. Centred on a maritime task group, IPE21 involved HMA Ships Canberra and Anzac and approximately 700 people, including Australian Defence Force and civilian defence personnel, and sea riders from partner nations. Engagements were modified in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and were carried out primarily through contactless port visits, and included a range of virtual workshops and atsea activities. Once delivered, the USN EA-18G is set to be modified by the Royal Australian Air Force, joining the bespoke EA-18G Growler fleet.

BAE SYSTEMS AUSTRALIA TO EXPAND FOOTPRINT AT NEWCASTLE’S ASTRA AEAROLAB

In a significant show of confidence in Astra Aerolab and the Defence and Aerospace industry at Williamtown, BAE Systems Australia has recently strengthened its position as one of the leading defence and security companies by securing a pre-commitment to expand its presence at Newcastle Airport’s Defence estate.

US APPROVES GROWLER SALE TO ADF

Australia’s request to replace a damaged EA-18G Growler has been formally approved by the US State Department. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has confirmed the sale of a Boeing-built US Navy EA18G aircraft to Australia for an estimated US$125 million ($170.8 million). BAE Systems, which employs around 5,000 people across Australia, has signed a 34year extension on its current lease at Newcastle Airport and has also entered into a new pre-commitment for up to 4.4 hectares of land on Astra Aerolab – Australia’s Premier Defence and Aerospace Precinct, which offers airside access to RAAF Williamtown and Newcastle Airport. The agreement sees Astra Aerolab providing a full range of property services, including future development of facilities on the precommitment land.

RAN TO BOLSTER SEAHAWK HELICOPTER FLEET

Australia’s $1.3 billion request to enhance its Sikorsky MH60R combat helicopter fleet has been approved. The US State Department has greenlit the Commonwealth government’s request to purchase an additional 12 MH-60R Multi-Mission (Seahawk) helicopters from Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky for approximately US$985 million ($1.3 billion). The deal, which will take the total size of the fleet to 36, includes the provision of spare engines, radars, targeting systems, rocket and missile launchers, sensors, missile warning systems, GPS technology, and electronic countermeasures. US contractors are also expected to provide engineering, training and logistics support services. The Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of Seahawk helicopters are tipped to bolster antisurface and anti-submarine warfare capability, while also supporting the execution of vertical replenishment, search and rescue, and communications relay missions. The Seahawk is equipped with a sophisticated combat systems designed to employ Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and the Mark 54 anti-submarine torpedo. Some reports have suggested the fleet has expanded in response to technical issues associated with the Airbus-built MH-90 Taipan helicopters, deployed by both Navy and Army.

LOCAL FIRM WINS $100M DEAL TO DEVELOP WEAPONS RANGE

An Indigenous-owned construction company has been tapped to develop new facilities at a RAAF bombing range. Construction firm Tiwi Partners has been awarded

a $107.8 million contract to complete works at Delamere Air Weapon Range in the Northern Territory. The works are set to involve the demolition of the old facility and construction of three new Mobile Emitter Site Mounds. This is expected to ensure the RAAF base is equipped to support the Growler Airborne Electronic Attack capability. The project is scheduled to commence in late September and conclude by June next year. LEONARDO, NORTHROP GRUMMAN ANNOUNCE UAS COLLABORATION

According to Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price, the contract with Tiwi Partners would support 150 jobs, with 80 per cent of the sub-contracted work awarded to local businesses.

SEAHAWK ACHIEVES MILESTONE

The Royal Australian Navy helicopter has surpassed 2,000 flight hours while on deployment in south-east Asia. Embarked on HMAS Anzac, the helicopter, dubbed ‘‘Berserker’, is engaging alongside HMA Ships Canberra and Sirius as part of Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2021 (IPE21). The Sikorsky-built MH-60R Seahawk, operated by 816 Squadron, has deployed from HMAS Anzac since August 2020, and recently supported the frigate’s threemonth regional engagement and the emergency rescue of 20 Indonesian fishermen stranded 670 nautical miles off the coast of Western Australia.

Leonardo and Northrop Grumman Corporation have agreed to jointly pursue opportunities in the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) space, collaborating on design, system architectures, payload optimisation and integration within future battlespace architectures. The primes will specifically focus on customer requirements and missionbased concepts of operations. Leonardo is expected to leverage its rotorcraft experience, supported by Northrop Grumman’s advanced aeronautics and autonomous uncrewed aerial systems capability. US RAMPS UP MILITARY PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA

Bases across Australia are set to host a larger contingent of US troops and military equipment as part of a new deal struck between the nations. Minister for Defence Peter Dutton and Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne have confirmed plans to bolster the United States’ military presence in Australia after meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin as part of AUSMIN discussions. As an extension to the bilateral Force Posture Working Group convened in May 2021, the counterparts endorsed areas of expanded co-operation across the air and maritime domains. This includes: • enhanced air co-operation through the rotational deployment of US aircraft of all types in Australia and appropriate aircraft training and exercises; • enhanced maritime cooperation by increasing logistics and sustainment capabilities of US surface and subsurface vessels in

Australia; • enhanced land cooperation by conducting more complex and more integrated exercises and greater combined engagement with allies and partners in the region; and • the establishment of a combined logistics, sustainment, and maintenance enterprise to support high end warfighting and combined military operations in the region.

Minister Dutton shed more light on the deal revealing US personnel and military assets would be based in key strategic locations across the country. In addition to hosting troops in the Top End, Australia is set to welcome US maritime and air platforms in the southern states. This is expected to include submarines, bombers, and surveillance aircraft, the latter of which could be sustained at RAAF Base Richmond and RAAF Base Amberley. Charbel Kadib/Defence Connect

QUICKER REFUEL TO BOOST POSEIDON ON SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSIONS

A Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft from No. 92 Wing based at RAAF Base Edinburgh, near Adelaide in South Australia, performed the first in-ground refuelling task from its homebase on in August. The new in-ground refuelling capability utilises a hydrantline configuration that is plumbed from the Edinburgh Base Fuel Farm to the No. 92 Wing apron as a hydrant point. The system involves a No. 24 Squadron tanker hydrant cart (or ‘pie cart’) connecting to both the hydrant point and the P-8A Poseidon aircraft in order for the fuel to be delivered to the aircraft fuel tank. Rigorous testing was undertaken with multiple agencies in order to get the in-ground refuelling system ready for P-8A Poseidon aircraft use. The refuelling capability benefits to 92 Wing are significant with the inground refuelling system providing unlimited fuel loading options; and the ability for a P-8A Poseidon aircraft to be refuelled around 30% faster compared to a traditional tanker truck. This represents a direct enhancement to operational capability for the P-8A Poseidon fleet; especially when undertaking short notice missions. With inground refuelling systems operational across other Australian Defence Force Bases, the P-8A Poseidon fleet and support personnel can now utilise its benefits at their home-base - as a significant increase to operational capability. Under the command of No. 92 Wing, the P-8A Poseidon is operated by RAAF No. 11 and No. 292 Squadrons - and is a modern, potent and highly reliable aircraft based on the commerciallyproven Boeing B737-800; modified to incorporate the latest maritime surveillance and attack capabilities.

DEFENCE TESTING WORLD FIRST TECH IN SPACE

The Head of Air Force Capability, Air Vice-Marshal Cath Roberts, and Director General Air Defence and Space, Air Commodore Philip Gordon, recently announced the next phase of the Australian M2 satellite mission, a collaboration between the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra Space and the Royal Australian Air Force. “This collaboration allows small satellites to be used for evaluation of technologies that may eventually be placed onto more complex space systems, such as large communications or earth observation satellites,” Air Vice-Marshal Roberts said. The M2 mission has been orbiting the globe since being launched in New Zealand by Rocket Lab in March. Now UNSW Canberra has conducted a controlled separation of M2 into two smaller cube satellites (CubeSat), M2A and M2B, enabling planned research into formation flying, satellite control mechanisms, maritime surveillance, space domain awareness, and intersatellite communications.

PATHWAY TO DEFENCE NDUSTRY POPULAR

The Defence Industry Pathways Program has been a hit in Western Australia, as people of all ages take up the chance to get a taste of life in the state’s Defence industry. The program aims to give school-leavers and others an initial experience in Defence industry through placements with relevant employers. It also provides participants with a Certificate III in Defence Industry Pathways from Western Australia’s South Metropolitan TAFE. Running over 12 months, with up to 120 trainees taking part through to 2023, the goal is to build the nation’s future Defence industry workforce by showing school-leavers and those looking for a career change what Defence industry options are available, as well as introducing them to its workplace culture. To date, 50 employers have applied to train and mentor the applicants, including L3 Harris Technologies, Austal, BAE, BRE Engineering, and Nihar Consultants. It is hoped the wide range of businesses taking part in the program will give the successful applicants exposure to a variety of sectors within Defence industry, providing them as many options as possible as they decide on the best path to take in the sector.

However, it is not just employers in Western Australia who are enthusiastic about the program. Within 90 minutes of its launch in June, the program had more than 100 applications. While more than half of those accepted into the program were aged 18-21, almost a third were aged over 30, and about a third of the group were female. Head Maritime Systems Rear Admiral Wendy Malcolm said the popularity of the program across all age groups showed the strong interest in working in Defence industry. “There are so many opportunities over future years in this industry, and the Defence Industry Pathways Program is a great way to attract people to the sector, whether it is school-leavers, people looking for a career change, or those who are just exploring opportunities,” Rear Admiral Malcolm said. Applications for the January 2022 intake of the Defence Industry Pathways Program are currently open through the website Programmed.