One of the Australian pioneers of a revolutionary decoy system helping to protect Australian warships from missile attacks has received a prestigious international award.

The Royal Aeronautical Society (on 11 December 2008) awarded a gold medal to BAE Systems Australia Chief Designer Malcolm Crozier, for his innovative work on the hovering rocket technology that led to the Nulka Active Missile Decoy System.

Mr Crozier has been involved with the Nulka program for most of his working life, from its early origins within the Australian Defence Science Technology Organisation (DSTO) through to his role with BAE Systems Australia today.

The rocket propelled active decoy, designed to lure anti-ship missiles away from intended targets, is now installed on 120 Australian, United States and Canadian combat ships.
“It is indeed a great honour to receive this award especially as it is from the engineering profession of which I’m so proud to belong,” said Mr Crozier. “I prefer to think of this acceptance as being on behalf of a large community of contributors both past and present from many organisations. It is both the design and the manufacturing teams that continue to make this project and product a success. We are also fortunate to have flexible and positive personnel in both the Australian and US Navy project groups, supported by their respective research establishments.”

BAE Systems Australia Chief Executive Jim McDowell said Mr Crozier had led the development of the unique digital flight control system and sensor system, which facilitated the radically different flight regime of the Nulka hovering rocket decoy system.

“He then led the engineering development of the production flight vehicle for the Australian and US Navy, overcoming many technological challenges on the way to its successful introduction,” Mr McDowell said.

“Mr Cozier has continued to lead development of the operational system, introducing several technology upgrades to maintain its capability. This award by the Royal Aeronautical Society recognises the outstanding contribution that he has made over several decades and is the latest in a long list of well deserved tributes for his work,” Mr McDowell added.

The Royal Aeronautical Society has been honouring outstanding achievers in the global aerospace industry since 1908, when Wilbur and Orville Wright came to London to receive the Society’s first two Gold Medals.