DPR 124/97 Monday, 22 September, 1997
NAVIGATION TRAINING AIRCRAFT UPGRADE
The Department of Defence announced today that British Aerospace Australia (BAeA) had been awarded a navigation avionics upgrade contract worth $22 million.
Under the contract, British Aerospace Australia will develop a new navigation training suite and install a new ground mapping radar for the RAAF's HS748 navigation training aircraft.
The equipment being acquired under this project is used by the RAAF's
School of Air Navigation (SAN) at East Sale in Victoria. The school uses
HS748 aircraft from
No 32 Squadron and is responsible for training Australian and New Zealand
air force navigators and Royal Australian Navy observers.
The upgrade project will provide the Australian Defence Force with enhanced and cost effective navigator flight training and a new ground based navigation trainer. Aircraft upgrade work is planned to commence in 1999, to coincide with the installation of the ground based synthetic navigation trainer at RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria.
Australian industry, through British Aerospace Australia, will have significant involvement in the development, installation and management of the upgraded aircraft training platform and the new synthetic navigation trainer.
The upgraded equipment will ensure Australia retains the lead role in navigation training within the region.
Further information:
Departmental Mignon Patterson (02) 6265 2886/018 632 657
Divisional Squadron Leader Ken Thomas (02) 6266 1834