| The Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, recently announced a $68 million program to provide enhancements to the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) Maritime Patrol Capability.
AIR 5276 Capability Assurance Program 1 (CAP 1) will equip the whole AP-3C Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft fleet (Orion fleet), with modern electro-optic/infra-red sensors, a high data-rate communications system (tactical common data link), and a replacement video recorder system. Aircrew training and engineering support will also be provided to bolster this modern technology.
“This valuable real time information and high-speed streaming of data will further allow us to support a wide range of allied and coalition armed service partners, as well as Air Force units, the Australian Army and Navy, Australian Federal Police and Coast Watch,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
CAP 1 has been developed in partnership with Australian industry through the P-3 Accord, which is an alliance between the Defence Materiel Organisation, BAE Systems Australia Defence and Australian Aerospace Ltd.
The common fit of this equipment across all aircraft, training and support systems, and the improved in-service logistics support structures put in place by the project, is also expected to result in a significant improvement in maintenance productivity.
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