MIN 64/97 Thursday, April 24, 1997
AUSTRALIA'S SEAHAWK HELICOPTERS TO BE UPGRADED
The Minister for Defence, Mr Ian McLachlan, announced today that Hawker de Havilland Victoria Limited has been selected as the preferred tenderer to acquire and integrate forward looking infra-red, electronic support and countermeasures equipment for Australia's 16 Seahawk helicopters.
The Hawker de Havilland proposal offers the best all round value for providing a sensor suite to enhance the protection and combat effectiveness of the Seahawk helicopters, which operate from the six RAN Adelaide Class frigates.
The selected equipment will be fully integrated into the aircraft's weapon system to provide a significantly improved ability to detect and identify potential threats, and to avoid and counter them. These systems will operate at over the horizon distances, in all weather conditions, day or night. The same equipment will be used where feasible for both the existing Seahawks and the new Super Seasprite helicopters, which are planned to be acquired from Kaman Aerospace of the USA.
While component equipment will be sourced from overseas companies, Australian industry will integrate and install the systems into the helicopters. Hawker de Havilland Victoria Limited will be the prime contractor and will conduct most of the installation work in Australia. Telstar Systems of Melbourne will conduct much of the software integration for the helicopter's weapon system and software support centre. Australian industry will also be involved in providing the through life support of the system.
The new equipment is planned to be operational in the Seahawk helicopters by 2002.
Further information:
Ministerial Jim Bonner 0419 428490
Departmental Captain Brian Rowe (06) 2664980