Defence

Defence Materiel Organisation

Up, up and away...

The DMO reform agenda is in full swing in Aerospace Systems Division(ASD), with a number of initiatives being developed to support the six DMO reform themes.

As with any change program, success is built on the change managers and leadership within the organisation. To ensure the best leaders were appointed to key ASD leadership positions, the CEO DMO, Dr Stephen Gumley, opened up the positions for competition from military, Defence civilian and industry leaders. As part of DMO's reform agenda to professionalise the workforce, this new process is aimed at providing the best person for the job.

The Head of Aerospace Systems Division position and three Branch Head positions were recently competed under this new process. Under this process, following the normal posting and promotion system the appropriate Service nominates a preferred military candidate for each position. The selection process then follows the normal APS process. Positions are advertised in the press, and the military preferred candidates are required to submit applications along with applicants from the APS and industry.

Air Force candidates won all four positions, re-affirming the commitment from the Air Force to offer the best possible candidates to DMO. The new Head of Aerospace Systems Division is Air Vice Marshal Clive Rossiter. He is supported by a team that includes three new Branch Heads, Air Commodores Rod Luke, Roy McPhail and Colin Thorne.

Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Clive Rossiter says, "It was a new, but I think valuable, experience having to prepare a job application and then to go through a formal interview. I know that there were many members watching the outcome closely. It is not something to be concerned about. I believe that the Services offer very strong candidates and I hope that the outcome reassures RAAF engineers and project managers aspiring to senior positions in the DMO".

The Division has also undergone a significant re-structure since Christmas to balance the workloads and responsibilities of the Branch Heads. The re-organisation split the former Airlift, Maritime and Training Systems Branch and concentrated Navy and Army aviation support under separate branches. The new divisional structure is:

Head Aerospace Systems Division
    AVM Clive Rossiter
Aerospace Material Management
    AIRCDRE Ian Smith
Aerospace Combat Systems
    AIRCDRE Roy McPhail
Airlift and Training Systems
    AIRCDRE Rod Luke
Aerospace Maritime and Surveillance Systems
    AIRCDRE Colin Thorne
Navy Aviation Systems
    Mr Andrew Wood
Army Aviation Systems
    BRIG Mark Patch

Amidst the fanfare and jet engines of the recent Avalon International Airshow, you could be forgiven for missing the significance of a couple of developments in ASD aimed at DMO reform themes of improving industry relationships, re-prioritising and leading reform in Defence.

A ceremony marked the delivery of the last of the upgraded AP-3C aircraft from L3 Communications. The AP-3C Orion Upgrade Project, Project AIR 5276 Phase 2, has successfully delivered the fleet of upgraded Orion aircraft to the RAAF's No 92 Wing. Based at RAAF Edinburgh in South Australia, the AP-3C has already contributed extensively to operations out of Darwin and in the Arabian Gulf.

Several companies were involved over the life of the project. An AP-3C prototype was produced in Greenville, Texas by prime contractor, L3 Communications Integrated Systems (then known as E-Systems). The remainder of the fleet production was completed by Australian industry at Avalon Airfield. Tenix Defence eventually took over the Avalon production facility in mid 2003, completing the final 10 aircraft. BAE Systems was also involved in the many sub-systems including simulation and software development facilities at RAAF Edinburgh.

When the contract was awarded ten years ago, major avionics upgrades to RAAF aircraft were an emerging phenomenon, and the P-3 avionics upgrade was one of the most ambitious. This project still rates as one of our most ambitious 'go-it-alone' aircraft upgrades. The Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Houston, AVM Rossiter and Vice President of L-3 Communications Mr Bob Drew all paid tribute to the commitment and professionalism of the many staff from industry, ASD and the Air Force responsible for the success of the project.

While completion of the project is an important milestone, it also marks a turning point in delivery of support to the AP-3C fleet. An additional number of major capability upgrades are programmed in the Defence Capability Plan awaiting completion of P3 Avionics Upgrade, and the relatively limited AP- 3C support base in Australian industry has been an impetus for reform. As part of the DMO reform theme - 'Improving Industry Relationships' - ASD is working with industry to establish support arrangements for the AP-3C to deliver both the program of capability upgrades plus long-term in-service support.

This long-term arrangement with Tenix Defence Aerospace Division and Australian Aerospace will see more responsibility for the support of the AP- 3C fleet moving to Defence industry and the Maritime Patrol Systems Program Office moving from 'doing to managing'. This will be the first arrangement of its type in Defence aerospace, and probably the first such arrangement in Defence to contemplate major capital improvements as well as sustainment of a platform.

The new AP-3C support arrangement is not the only initiative exemplifying ASD advances in reforming industry relationships and support delivery mechanisms.

Another significant event at the Avalon Airshow was the signing of a through life support contract for Caribou aircraft. Australian Aerospace Limited of Brisbane QLD, has signed a through life support contract for the maintenance of 14 Caribou aircraft and spares in support of the Royal Australian Air Force. This new contract consolidates the deeper maintenance and management of Caribou aircraft and Caribou airframe and avionic spares under a single Australian prime, enhancing Australian industry's ability to manage service delivery. Consistent with the Defence Aerospace Sector Strategic Plan, this contract exemplifies the move to harness Australian industry under performance based support contracts and the changing role of DMO from 'doing to managing'.

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