MIN 79/97 Tuesday, 3 June, 1997
SHORT LIST NAMED FOR PROJECT ECHIDNA
The Minister for Defence, Mr McLachlan, today announced a short list of six potential contractors for supplying Australian Defence Force aircraft with electronic warfare (EW) self protection equipment.
Mr McLachlan said the F-111 strike aircraft and Black Hawk, Chinook and Sea King helicopters would be equipped with electronic warfare kits as part of a general upgrading of ADF aircraft. The new C130J model Hercules transport aircraft, currently on order from the United States, would also be equipped with similar capabilities.
The six potential suppliers are British Aerospace Australia, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon E-Systems, Rockwell-ASTA Defence (now a part of the Boeing group of companies) and a combined team of Elta and Elisra from Israel. A Request for Tenders will be released later this year for an anticipated contract signing in mid 1999.
Mr McLachlan said he was pleased with the initial responses and the level of interest in Australian industry for both the initial work and follow-up support.
The entire project, known as Echidna, combines Projects AIR 5391 and AIR 5394 and involves threat warning and countermeasures systems to protect the aircraft from guided weapons systems. The project also includes necessary support infrastructure for the systems and modifications to the aircraft simulators.
Further information:
Ministerial, Jim Bonner Ph 06-2777800
Departmental, WGCDR David Steer Ph 06-2651615 (b/h) 06-2914220 (a/h)