Annual Report 2004-05

Outcome Two: Navy Capabilities

Capability Performance Information

Output 2.2 Capability for Naval Aviation Operations

The naval aviation force provides a capability for naval aviation operations. The capability is being enhanced by the introduction of Super Seasprite helicopters. The Super Seasprite will provide a number of embarked flights for the Anzac-class frigates, and an enhanced capability for surface surveillance, anti-ship warfare, and undersea warfare. Seahawk helicopters, already in-service, provide the flights for embarkation in Adelaide-class guided missile frigates. A Sea King Squadron is maintained for maritime support operations, including troop lift and a range of logistic tasks, and Squirrel helicopters provide initial helicopter aircrew training.

Seahawk helicopters met all planned operational commitments. Sea King helicopters were meeting operational commitments until the accident on 2 April 2005, which resulted in the loss of one aircraft. Squirrel helicopters met and slightly exceeded their training targets. Kalkara target operations in support of Navy and Air Force training and missile testing met all requested tasking assignments. The Kalkara contract, using current aircraft numbers, has an option to extend until 2011.

	Performance Targets	Performance
	Achieve levels of preparedness directed by the Chief of the Defence Force for military response options with a warning time of less than 12 months.	Partially Achieved. Levels were met in accordance with current preparedness directives except for the period after the Sea King accident on 2 April 2005.
	Achieve a level of training that maintains core skills and professional standards across all warfare areas.	Substantially Achieved. The naval aviation force achieved a level of training that maintained and improved core skills and professional standards. The commitment to the number of Seahawk flights at sea was temporarily reduced to meet individual training and helicopter modification requirements.
	Achieve mission capability for assigned tasks.	Substantially Achieved. Embarked flights and detachments were mission capable to meet all but a limited number of assigned tasks with the exception of Sea Kings following the 2 April 2005 accident.
	16 Seahawks - 4,600 hours.	16 Seahawks - 84 per cent (3,874 hours). Seahawk availability and hours achieved improved slightly over the previous year but ongoing projects with the Seahawk fleet and aircrew shortages have limited the achievement of the intended hours.
	7 Sea Kings - 2,000 hours.	6 Sea Kings - 63 per cent (1,267 hours). A Sea King was lost in an accident on Nias, Indonesia on 2 April 2005. The suspension of flying while the cause of the accident was being investigated, and then reduced flying while aircrew currencies were being re established, limited the achievement of hours for the year.
	13(1) Squirrels - 4,000 hours.	13 Squirrels - 106 per cent (4,243 hours). High aircraft availability and unexpected favourable weather conditions allowed flying training to exceed beyond that originally planned.
	10(2) Super Seasprites - 1,200 hours.	9 Super Seasprites - 69 per cent (826 hours). Flying was limited by evolving supply and other developmental issues discovered as the aircraft usage increased, and more aircraft were brought into service.
	10 Kalkaras - available for 39 presentations.(3) (4)	10 Kalkaras - 31 per cent (12 presentations). The system was available for 39 presentations as per the contractual requirements. Only 12 were required to support Navy and Air Force training exercises and missile testing during 2004-05.

Notes

1. Twelve aircraft are operated, the thirteenth aircraft is held for attrition purposes.
2. The tenth and eleventh Super Seasprite helicopter will be introduced in 2005-06.
3. The Portfolio Budget Statements 2004-05, p. 134, inadvertently reported 13 Kalkara when only 10 remained as reported in the Defence Annual Report 2003-04, p. 113.
4. Kalkara is an unmanned aerial target system used for Navy and Air Force support. Presentations refer to the number of instances during which the system is used as a target in training or system testing exercises.