Media Release

FOUR COMPANIES AWARDED DESIGN CONTRACTS FOR ELECTRONIC WARFARE AIRCRAFT PROTECTION

Four major Defence consortiums are to provide designs for new electronic warfare self-protection (EWSP) systems for some Australian Defence Force aircraft.

Lockheed Martin Federal Systems, Tenix Defence Systems, Northrop Grumman Corporation and Ratheon Systems Company will be awarded contracts for initial design of a new generation EWSP system suitable for installation in several different aircraft types.

Each will receive a fixed price contract to produce an initial design and have 14 months to complete the design when they will be asked to tender for the follow-on production phases with the designs produced.

After evaluation of the tenders, the Department will select the one design and contractor to apply their EWSP systems in the first instance to the Army's Blackhawk helicopters.

In subsequent phases, the EWSP solution chosen will also be applied to Chinook and Sea King helicopters, F111 strike and C130J Hercules transport aircraft and planners will also consider extending the technology to AP-3C Orions and Hawk lead-in fighters.”

The project is designed to enhance the ADF's combat capability and signalled continuation of the trend by the Defence Acquisition Organisation(DAO) to early identification and minimisation of risk in technologically complex projects.

It will provide aircraft self-protection and enhance Australian industry's ability to support this vital aspect of ADF capability.

Further information:
Wing Commander Laurie Bode (02) 6265 1615

Issued by the Defence Public Affairs Organisation, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT, 2600

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