January 19, 2009 -- Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, today announced the signing of a contract with the Boeing Company to provide five years of through life support services for the new Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fleet of Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEWC) aircraft.
“This contract will create more than 100 industry jobs in the Newcastle area. It will also provide continued and new employment for more than 100 personnel at Amberley over the next 12 months, which will have positive flow-on effects for local businesses,” Mr Combet said.
“The five year performance based contract is valued at $800 million and provides a comprehensive support arrangement.
“The contract links contractor profits directly to contractor performance, thereby promoting greater efficiency and delivering real cost savings.
“The contract aims to reduce costs into the future, providing value for money for Defence and the Australian taxpayer.
“As outlined in the Rudd Government’s White Paper the Wedgetail aircraft will provide vastly improved situational awareness and an ability to control and coordinate aircraft in the military environment.
“The Boeing Company will be supported by Boeing Defence Australia on maintenance, engineering and training. Northrop Grumman Corporation will provide support for their Multi-Role Electronically Scanned radar.
“As part of the contract, the industry team will deliver services including logistics, training, spares management, aircraft deeper maintenance, engineering and supply chain management,” Minister Combet said.
The Wedgetail aircraft are being delivered progressively to RAAF Base Williamtown. This contract will allow for the necessary infrastructure to be developed for the support of the Wedgetail Aircraft when they are formally accepted by the Commonwealth.
ADF
Anoa APS-2 6x6. (Photo: KOMPAS)
January 13, 2010, Bandung -- State-owned arms manufacturer PT Pindad here Wednesday delivered 33 armored personnel carriers of the APS-2 type (6x6) to the Defense Ministry.
According to a Defense Ministry press release, 24 of the delivered armored vehicles would be used by the army, and the other 13 would put at the disposal of the Indonesian contingent in the UN peace-keeping force in Lebanon.
The 38 APS-2s constituted the third batch of armored personnel carrier deliveries to the Defense Ministry which had placed an order for 150 units. In the first and second batches PT Pindad delivered a total of 60 units to the ministry in 2008.
The ministry had also asked PT Pindad in 2008 to make four armored reconnaissance vehicles.
The APS-2s made by PT Pindad each weigh 12 tons and their bodies were constructed with monocoque and covered in 8 to 10 mm bullet-proof plating.
Although the vehicles are relatively heavy, they can develop a cruising speed of 90 kilometers per hour, turn within a radius of 10 meters and take inclines of up to 31 degrees.
The vehicles are equipped with night vision instruments, a 6- ton winch and for communication purposes they have an intercom set plus VHF/FM (anti-jamming and hopping) and a GPS navigation system.
One APS-2 can carry 15 soldiers, has eight glass reconnaissance and eight firing holes besides two sets of smoke launching tubes.
In terms of firing power, every APS-2 is topped by a copula that can spin 360 degrees to aim AGL or SMB machine guns at targets. They are also equipped with 7.62 mm weapons (infantry) and AGL 40 mm guns (cavalry ).
ANTARA News
January 13, 2009 -- The first Australian-leased Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has started initial operations supporting Australian, Afghan and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan.
Under Project Nankeen, the Defence Materiel Organisation has signed a contract with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd (MDA) to provide Heron Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) services which will deliver high resolution intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability supporting ADF and ISAF operations in southern Afghanistan.
Heron uses leading edge technology to boost force protection by providing ground commanders with live situational awareness.
Heron’s long endurance characteristic enhances the ADF’s operational ISR capabilities in Afghanistan, currently provided by Air Force AP-3C Orions and Army’s Scan Eagle tactical UAV.
For the past five months, an Air Force-led ADF detachment has been preparing for the delivery of the Australian Heron UAV, by working with the Canadian Heron detachment in southern Afghanistan, drawing on the Canadians’ operational knowledge, experience and facilities.
The Australian Heron detachment has been drawn from many parts of Air Force and Army. It includes UAS pilots, payload operators, intelligence officers, imagery analysts, engineers, administrative and logistics personnel.
Personnel from the Heron detachment are continuing to hone their skills with ISAF personnel. The initial training program provided Australian personnel with the theatre qualifications to conduct operations and provide support for our troops on the ground.
The Initial Operating Capability has been achieved and development of the full capability is ongoing. The Heron is expected to be fully mission capable in the coming months.
Heron is a one tonne aircraft capable of medium altitude, long endurance flights. It was selected after a detailed examination of off-the-shelf, low risk ISR systems available to be quickly deployed to Afghanistan. The Heron contract is for an initial one year period of operations, with an option to extend.
Australian DoD
January 11, 2009, Kalinigrad -- A Russian shipyard will float out the last two of three frigates for India's Navy by the end of the year, a Yantar spokesman said on Monday.
The first of three Project 11356 frigates was taken out of dry dock at the end of November.
The warships will become modified Krivak III class (also known as Talwar class) guided missile frigates for the Indian Navy under a $1.6 billion contract signed in July 2006.
Indian President Pratibha Patil has named the new ships the Teg (Hindi for Saber), the Tarkash (Quiver), and the Trikand (Bow).
The new frigates will be armed with eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
They will be also equipped with a 100-mm gun, a Shtil surface-to-air missile system, two Kashtan air-defense gun/missile systems, two twin 533-mm torpedo launchers, and an anti-submarine warfare helicopter.
In an interview with RIA Novosti last year, Yantar director Igor Orlov said the shipyard was in talks with Russia's Vnesheconombank on "a $60 million loan to complete the construction of the three frigates for the Indian Navy."
Russia has previously built three Talwar-class frigates for India - INS Talwar (Sword), INS Trishul (Trident), and INS Tabar (Axe).
RIA Novosti
rhsukarsa
