Defence

The Morrison Government will accelerate the creation of a $1 billion Sovereign Guided Weapons Enterprise, boosting skilled jobs and helping secure Australia’s sovereign defence capabilities.

The Department of Defence will now select a strategic industry partner to operate a sovereign guided weapons manufacturing capability on behalf of the Government as a key part of the new Enterprise.

The new Enterprise will support missile and guided weapons manufacturing for use across the Australian Defence Force.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said creating a sovereign defence industrial capability was a key priority for the Government while also creating new opportunities for jobs and small business growth.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute has estimated that Australia will spend $100 billion in the next 20 years on missile and guided weapons purchases. Commonwealth of Australia.

HMAS Stuart conducts a live Harpoon Missile firing off the coast of Hawaii during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2020. Defence image.

LOCKHEED MARTIN AUSTRALIA WINS CONTRACT TO FIGHT IMPROVISED THREATS

The Morrison Government has announced a $9 million boost to Australia’s defence industry to develop an integrated system that can detect and neutralise improvised threats.

The contract, awarded to Lockheed Martin Australia’s Science, Technology, Engineering Leadership and Research Laboratory was given as part of Defence’s Counter Improvised Grand Threat Challenge initiative.

It includes a US$3 million financial and technical contribution provided by the United States’ Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the contract, funded through the Next Generation Technologies Fund, was important in helping to keep the men and women of the Australian Defence Force safe. Commonwealth of Australia. Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price, has confirmed the Federal Government will invest a further $115 million to procure three additional Loyal Wingman aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force, doubling the size of the fleet.

This is in addition to the $40 million already invested in the program, as part of a broader effort to assess the benefits of enhanced interoperability between piloted and remotely piloted air team systems in support of Australia’s defence and national security objectives.

According to Defence, the investment will ensure ongoing support of the current workforce and key industries, including advanced mission system software development, high technology aircraft manufacturing and uncrewed aircraft flight testing.

The news comes after Boeing confirmed completion of its first Loyal Wingman in March, taking off and landing at the Woomera Range Complex, South Australia.

The flight marked the first time in over 50 years since an Australian-designed military combat aircraft performed an inaugural flight in Australia.

Head of Air Force Capability, Air Vice-Marshal Catherine Roberts AM, CSC acknowledged the magnitude of the achievement and congratulated the team on their success.

The Loyal Wingman will have a range of more than 3,700 kilometres and is designed to fly, as a partner, with crewed Air Force platforms. Commonwealth of Australia.

Boeing Australia, Airpower Teaming System – ‘Loyal Wingman’ conducts its first flight at Woomera Range Complex, South Australia. Defence image.

INDIGENOUS COMPANY AWARDED KEY CONTRACT

An Indigenous construction company has been awarded the head contract to build a $23.9 million assembly and maintenance facility in NSW for one of Australia’s most successful defence exports.

In a major jobs boost, National Aboriginal Construction Partners (NACP) Projects is expected to employ around 200 workers during construction of the Nulka Missile Assembly and Maintenance facilities, at the Defence Establishment Orchard Hills.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the Morrison Government’s contract with NACP would provide a major boost for the Indigenous business and the Western Sydney community.

Minister Price said the project would support the production, maintenance, sustainment and export of the Nulka decoy missile system.

‘Nulka’ is of Australian Aboriginal origin, meaning ‘be quick’.

Work on the project will start in April and is expected to finish in early 2022. Commonwealth of Australia.

NEW VIRTUAL SATELLITE OPERATIONS CENTRE

The ADF and Inmarsat announce they have agreed to an AUS$221 million contract extension for the provision of commercial satellite communications airtime services and managed hardware.

Brigadier Gregory Novak, Commander Defence Strategic Communications Branch and Mr Todd McDonell, President Inmarsat Global Government, participated in a ceremony commemorating the ongoing relationship between the Commonwealth of Australia and Inmarsat Australia in the provision of global satellite services.

These services enable a wide range of command, control, and situational awareness communications for the Australian Defence Force, the wider Department of Defence, and its Australian Government partners worldwide.

The overall commitment of the contract for satellite services is now AUS$331m over the 10-year term, including options for three extensions of two years each, helping to bridge the forthcoming transformation in the way the Australian Defence Force acquires and uses satellite technologies. Inmarsat Australia.

Australian Army Signaller Cendrine Robert-Spring with an Inmarsat IsatPhone. Defence image.

BOOST FOR SA DEFENCE JOBS

The Morrison Government has unveiled a $111 million sustainment contract with Raytheon Australia to support the jointly developed Raytheon-Kongsberg National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAM).

This contract will support the Australian Defence Force’s new Short Range Ground Based Air Defence Capability, part of the LAND 19 Phase 7B program.

The announcement builds on the official opening of Raytheon Australia’s new Centre for Joint Integration in Mawson Lakes, South Australia.

The multi-million dollar investment will create hundreds of new defence industry jobs for generations of Australians.

Support activities for the new air defence capability will begin at the centre in 2022, in preparation for the NASAM’s introduction into service with Army in 2023.

Raytheon expects to provide ongoing employment for at least 35 staff in support of the Short Range Ground Based Air Defence capability. Commonwealth of Australia.

SPACE MISSION UP, UP AND AWAY

Australia recently launched its most complex CubeSat mission ever, with the M2 Mission lifting-off in New Zealand as part of Rocket Lab’s ‘They Go Up So Fast’ mission.

M2 will separate from the electron rocket in Earth’s lower orbit. It will then split into two smaller CubeSats – M2-A and M2-B – and engage in formation flying.

Squadron Leader Josh Fitzmaurice, from the Space Domain Awareness team, said the amount of capability squeezed into the small satellites was amazing. "We will be able to receive ship and aircraft signals, capture images of large ships, perform on-board computing, and pass all the information down via smart radios,” Squadron Leader Fitzmaurice said.

The CubeSat was almost entirely designed and built in Australia in a collaboration between Air Force, UNSW Canberra Space, and a domestic supply chain of about 30 Australian companies.

It will primarily be communicating via UNSW Canberra Space satellite ground station hosted by Cingulan Space, near Yass in NSW. Defence News

Head of Air Force Capability Air Vice-Marshal Cath Roberts AM, CSC (right) speaks with Professor Russell Boyce about the M2 CubeSat at the University of New South Wales Canberra. Defence image.

THE FIGHT CONTINUES ONE YEAR ON

Since April 1, 2020, more than 16,000 ADF personnel have deployed on Operation COVID-19 Assist to support authorities as they combat a pandemic which, at times, has significantly altered the way of life for many Australians.

The delivery of Defence support on the ground has been led by Joint Task Force 629 (JTF 629) through joint task groups in each state and territory, building on the successful foundations laid during the ADF response during Operation Bushfire Assist.

ADF personnel have deployed on a number of tasks in Australia and overseas, from supporting police vehicle control points in some of the most remote parts of Australia, to working at hotels and international airports in our largest cities to ensure quarantine compliance.

ADF personnel have also been involved in the production of vital medical supplies, frontline COVID-19 testing and vital planning and logistics support.

Commander JTF 629 Rear Admiral Robert Plath praised the efforts of everyone involved.

“All who have had the opportunity to serve in JTF 629 have done so with a sense of great privilege to be part of what has been a truly national effort,” Rear Admiral Plath said.

“Defence has delivered quarantine compliance monitoring, border checkpoints, contract tracing and assisted in processing more than 600,000 returning passengers from international flights.”

The tempo and level of support in the past 12 months has changed in line with outbreaks and requests for assistance from the states and territories.

In the initial phases, the ADF designed and manufactured protective equipment, while providing support at hotels and airports for returning passengers.

It wasn’t long into the operation before the ADF was at the frontline. Last March in Tasmania, all staff at Burnie’s North West Regional Hospital were forced into quarantine after a local COVID-19 cluster emerged.

In support of Emergency Management Australia and the Department of Health, the ADF quickly supplied logistics and specialist staff to keep the hospital running for a fortnight – the first time in the ADF’s history it had operated a domestic emergency department.

The second wave of COVID-19 in Victoria in July, resulted in about 1000 extra ADF personnel deployed to support the government’s response.

ADF personnel performed nearly 280,000 COVID-19 tests, supported Victoria Police in the screening of more than 1,100,000 vehicles at vehicle checkpoints and supported more than 32,000 contact visits, just to name a few of the tasks.

During this outbreak, the NSW Government closed the border with Victoria, and about 500 ADF personnel were deployed to support NSW Police at 20 border checkpoints.

Border closures in various jurisdictions resulted in a large ADF commitment to support police control points, and internal state control points were established at times of outbreaks to stem any potential COVID-19 spread.

In Queensland alone, Defence supported 17 police control points covering the NT, SA and NSW borders, with biosecurity checkpoints supporting Indigenous communities.

This was a significant commitment by full-time and part-time personnel as the Queensland JTG Regimental sergeant Major Warrant Officer Class 1 Andrew Walford outlined.

“The tasks performed by the members of the JTG 629.3 [Queensland] have been challenging, requiring long hours on task, exposure to adverse weather and over-extended distances in remote communities that have welcomed our presence,” Warrant Officer Walford said.

As Operation COVID-19 Assist continues into its second year, there are still more than 1000 personnel involved with a focus on supporting hotel quarantine for returned international travellers and the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

More recently, following a request from the Department of Health, ADF vaccine delivery teams have now administered more than 3700 of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccinations at aged care and disability facilities.

As of April 7, 1700 ADF members have received their first dose through phase 1a of the vaccine national roll-out. ADF DEPARTS AFGHANISTAN

The Australian government recently announced Australia will be withdrawing military personnel from Afghanistan, in line with the United States' recent announcements of a troop withdrawal from the country. Some 80 Australian Defence Force personnel serve in the country as part of the NATO Resolute Support Mission.

It is expected that Australia’s final Defence personnel will withdraw from the country by September.

In a statement from Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Defence Minister Peter Dutton, the government outlined the withdrawal will ensure the ADF remains focused on the Indo-Pacific as per the 2020 Defence Strategic Update.

Australia has made a significant contribution to the war in Afghanistan for over 20 years, having fought global terror fronts such as al-Qaeda. Australia lost 41 Defence members while on deployment, with more Defence members lost after returning to Australia.

The government outlined that it would continue its commitment to peace in Afghanistan with an ongoing diplomatic mission and development programs. Commonwealth of Australia.

Feature Wirraway Aviation Museum RARE WARBIRDS ON SHOW

Pokolbin has a new, high-flying tourist attraction. It's early days, but potentially the sky's the limit for the unusual Wirraway Aviation Museum, tucked in opposite Cessnock Airport, in Pokolbin's wine country. Opened quietly in October 2018, the Wirraway museum is a bit of a misnomer as it showcases a variety of fascinating warbirds, including even some with metal patches denoting old bullet holes. Entry is free. The lone CAC Wirraway, a World War II training aircraft which is the real star of the show here for site owner and famous Hunter Valley airshow operator Paul Bennet. And it's a very rare relic, said to be one of only three still flying in Australia out of more than 700 built. In its drab green livery, the legendary Wirraway (an Aboriginal word meaning 'challenge') is unobtrusive within the museum's hangar, hidden between three other aircraft while two other magnificent warbirds stand outside. And yet, looks are deceiving. The WWII trainer (1939-1946) is credited with being the foundation of Australian aircraft manufacturing. It was the first aeroplane made by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC). Later it was modified into a wartime 'emergency fighter' known as the Boomerang. Yet, as painted up here to resemble Wirraway A20-176, it instantly recalls its fame as Australia's unlikeliest fighter, for "doing the impossible": a humble pilot trainer which, despite the odds, surprised and shot down a vastly superior Japanese 'Zero' enemy aircraft near Buna, New Guinea, in 1942. It was an amazing feat as the Wirraway was used only for reconnaissance missions. It was never intended as a frontline combat aircraft even in those desperate early war days. The enemy aircraft shot down was actually a Nakajima aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Army/Air Force, but an impressed US General Douglas MacArthur awarded Aussie pilot Jack Archer with a Silver Star for combat valour (and surviving). Better still, Archer and his observer were then also given 12 bottles of beer by the Australian High Command as a reward. Six they drank and the others they sold. Some 755 Wirraways were built as pilot trainers and general-purpose aircraft. Of these, only 15 are now registered. Only five are airworthy, with three being worked on and the rest are static, including one in storage in Florida. But only three are flying at present and the Museum has one. Nearby, with its unique folded wings, as it would travel on a US aircraft carrier, is the yellow-tipped, black Grumman Avenger dating from 1942. It was created initially for the US Navy. One WWII Avenger pilot rescued in 1944 later became US President George H.W.Bush. The Avenger was the biggest singleengine torpedo bomber the Allies had. It was developed in the wake of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in December 1941. That's why it was called the Avenger.

Six Avengers took part in WWII's Battle of Midway. Five were shot down and one came back, badly damaged. The Avenger and Wirraway both call the Museum their full-time home, although depending on when you visit, you could catch even more. A whole roster of other warbirds regularly rotates in and out of being on display. At the time of writing, a Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk and a red-nosed North American T-28 Trojan trainer are sitting amongst the regular occupants. Recently, the Museum has housed a Hawker Hurricane and North American Mustang, just to name a couple more. Parked outside the hangar is another strange beast. It's the graceful, if gaudy (painted bright yellow), Yak-52 Soviet aircraft whose design dates from 1976. It was used to train Russian pilots for MIG jets and is capable of some impressive aerobatics. Despite housing such an intriguing collection of historic aircraft, the Wirraway museum isn’t just about static exhibits. In fact, it’s quite handson at the hangar. Hoping to excite, inspire and educate the regions next generation of pilots and aviation enthusiasts, visitors can also find Aerohunter Flight Training and Aerohunter Adventure Flights located at the museum. Aerohunter Flight Training is for those curious about taking their first steps toward learning to fly. Visitors can get started with a Trial Introductory Flight over the beautiful Hunter Valley Wine Country and can keep learning with Aerohunter all the way through to a recreational pilot’s certificate. Meanwhile, Aerohunter Adventure Flights is just for the thrill-seekers. Remember that Yak-52 trainer mentioned before? Those looking for some instant adrenaline can get strapped in and taken on a range of adventure flights full of turns, loops, rolls and more. And yes, even the extremely rare Wirraway and Avenger can be booked for an adventure flight, for the serious enthusiast after a special and surreal chance to relive aviation history. This means all of the aircraft on display at the museum are in airworthy condition. What’s more, they regularly fly in airshows across the country, providing a rare chance for people to experience the sights and sounds of these old-school machines in action. One such event is the bi-annual Hunter Valley Airshow, which calls the Wirraway Museum and Cessnock Airport home and attracts 15,000 visitors over two days. The event sees an incredible variety of aircraft and attractions flock to the region for a huge aviation festival. With plenty to offer, the unique Wirraway Museum, launched nine months ago from humble beginnings, has its sights set on becoming the heart and hub of the Hunter Valley’s burgeoning aviation industry.

Pictures left to right: Trojan T-28; Interior of Cessna 02; CAC Wirraway. Photos supplied.

Wirraway Aviation Museum is located at 40 Grady Rd, Pokolbin and is open 7 days. To reach the aviation museum from Cessnock Aerodrome, tourists must drive in a virtual U-shape: up Broke Road, then down De Beyers Road, then turn left to the very end of Grady Road. www.facebook.com/ wirrawayaviationmuseum/