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Defence
DEFENCE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT DELIVERS $34M BOOST FOR WA ECONOMY
Almost $34 million will be invested in the delivery of vehicle workshops, hardstands and shelters in Swanbourne, Western Australia to support the modernisation of the Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force vehicle fleet.
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Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price announced Lendlease will deliver fit-for-purpose facilities and infrastructure to sustain the new fleet of trucks and trailers being procured for the Australian Defence Force.
The project has an anticipated peak workforce of about 50 people per day during the three-year construction.
“This is part of a larger, $150 million national infrastructure project that will deliver supporting infrastructure for the sustainment and maintenance of the Australian Defence Force’s next-generation defence logistics vehicle fleet,” Minister Price said.
Work on the Campbell Barracks works being delivered under the Land 121 Stage 5B project is expected to be complete by mid-2024.
Lendlease will deliver fit-for-purpose facilities and infrastructure to sustain the new fleet of trucks and trailers for the Australian Defence Force. Rheinmetall image.
F-35A NAMED AS SWITZERLAND’S NEXT-GEN FIGHTER JET
The Lockheed Martin-built aircraft has been selected after competing in a competition against alternative contenders.
The F-35A Lightning II is set to replace the Swiss Air Force’s ageing fleet of F-5 Tigers and F/A-18 Hornets over the next decade.
The Swiss Federal Council selected the Lockheed Martin-built aircraft following a competition which assessed the jet’s performance against three other contenders — Airbus’ Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault’s Rafale, and Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet.
Lockheed has been tasked with delivering 36 aircraft, sustainment support, and a training services for an estimated CHF 6 billion (AUD$8.6 billion).
Switzerland is among a host of other nations to procure the jet, including Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Norway, Denmark and Canada.
Last year, the RAAF accepted the 30th of 72 Lockheed Martin-built F-35A aircraft ordered by the Commonwealth government under the Joint Strike Fighter program.
All 72 aircraft are expected to be fully operational by 2023, with an option to expand the fleet to a maximum of 100 aircraft.
NEW CHINOOKS BOOST HEAVY-LIFT CAPABILITY
The ADF heavy-lift battlefield aviation capability has been boosted with the arrival of two new CH-47F Chinooks in Townsville recently.
The $595 million investment in four new CH-47F Chinooks will take Australia’s fleet from 10 to 14 under the acquisition program.
The first two of the new helicopters were delivered to Townsville aboard a large US military transport aircraft. The third and fourth helicopters are expected to arrive in Australia mid next year.
Minister for Defence Peter Dutton welcomed the arrival of the helicopters to Army’s 5th Aviation Regiment.
“The additional helicopters will strengthen Army’s airlift capability into the future and increase the ADF’s ability to support operations globally,” Mr Dutton said.
“The Chinook is Defence’s largest helicopter, with a long and proven track record of supporting ADF operations in Australia, our near region and further afield.”
The arrival came about three months after the sale was approved.
Mr Dutton said being delivered just days before the beginning of Exercise Talisman Sabre - the largest bilateral combined training activity between the ADF and US military - highlighted the countries' excellent strategic working relationship.
“By working closely with the United States, through streamlined processes to rapidly deliver Defence capability, the government is demonstrating its commitment to Defence’s strategic objectives and, in this case, bolstering Defence’s aviation capability,” he said. Defence News.
A new CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopter is unloaded from a United Stated C-5 Galaxy at RAAF Base Townsville, Queensland. Defence image
DEFENCE SUSPENDS MRH-90 TAIPAN OPERATIONS
Defence has confirmed flying operations of its 47 Airbusbuilt MRH-90 Taipan, deployed by both Australian Army and Royal Australian Navy forces, have been temporarily suspended.
The fleet, flown by 808 Squadron, has been grounded as a “safety precaution” after Defence identified an issue relating to the “application of the helicopter’s maintenance policy” in the aircraft’s IT support system.
“Defence and Airbus Australia Pacific are currently working collaboratively to remediate this issue," a Defence spokesperson said.
This is the latest in a series of technical incidents associated with the Taipan’s operation.
In 2019, a tail rotor vibration forced the MRH-90 helicopters based at HMAS Albatross to be grounded.
This followed a precautionary landing on HMAS Adelaide from an Army MRH-90 a fortnight earlier, prompting officials to temporary suspend the entire fleet.
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) again listed the MRH program (AIR 9000 Phase 2, 4 and 6) as a “project of concern” in its 2019-20 Defence Major Projects report.
The MRH-90 Taipan, which first entered service in 2017, has been described by Defence as a “fly-by-wire, all-composite construction, troop-lift helicopter” with the “highest crash-worthy standards”.
The helicopter is built with a large cabin, a rear ramp, weather radar and infra-red technology.
The Taipan has a max speed of 300km/h with a range of 800 kilometres. Charbel Kadib/Defence Connect
Flying operations of the MRH-90 Taipan have been temporarily suspended due to a series of technical incidents. Defence image.
The next generation of Hawkei Protected Mobility Vehicle – Light has reached a significant milestone with the approval of Initial Operational Capability under the Project Land 121 Phase 4. This brand new capability for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will provide a high level of protection for soldiers, with significantly improved mobility enabling it to operate in high threat environments. Minister for Defence the Hon Peter Dutton MP said the $2 billion project would see the new fleet of 1,100 Australianbuilt light protected vehicles rolled out to Army and Air Force units. “The Hawkei is expected to reach Full Operational Capability in 2023 and is joining the existing Bushmaster and Protected Medium Heavy Capability trucks to create a suite of protected mobility vehicles,” Minister Dutton said. “The new fleet of lighter vehicles, which will come with 1,058 trailers, will better protect ADF personnel from blast and ballistic threats.”
Defence image.
NEW FACILITY TO BOOST ADF CAPABILITIES
Defence and industry collaboration has been showcased again recently with the official opening of Moog Australia’s new $2 million facility called Factory Four in Heatherton, Victoria.
As a Defence-recognised supplier since 2003, Moog is the F-35 Joint Program Office’s preferred F-35 flap actuation and control systems maintenance provider.
Factory Four will enhance Moog Australia’s capability to sustain the Air Force’s growing fleet of fifth-generation F-35A Lighting II aircraft and Army’s Australian light armoured vehicles and M113 armoured personnel carriers.
Director General Joint Strike Fighter Branch Air Commodore Damien Keddie congratulated Moog Australia on its world-class facility.
“Moog Australia’s new facility will enhance its support to the Australian Defence Force across the land, air and sea domains and create 20 industry jobs in its first year,” Air Commodore Keddie said.
“This new facility will stimulate investment in Australian industry capability, creating jobs and offering Australian businesses more opportunities to export overseas.”
Moog Australia Managing Director Bryan O’Connor said the opening was a key milestone for the company’s futuregrowth strategy.
“We look forward to a bright future and we celebrate our continued growth and expansion in both Australia and the Indo-Pacific region,” Mr O’Connor said.
“The facility is dedicated to the support of the defence and aerospace markets, further developing capabilities to design and manufacture mission critical defence solutions from Australia.” Lawrence Dutrieux/ Defence News.
