Improving capability

These soldiers, pictured leaving an APC on Exercise Paradigm Shift at Singleton, will benefit from the White Paper's initiatives. Photo by Bill Cunneen

DEFENCE is looking back over the first year following the landmark Defence White Paper - and the view is good.

Terry Bransdon, Strategies Branch, said decisions on new reconnaissance and troop-lift helicopters, upgrades for 350 M113s and an enhanced combat training centre were the major White Paper capability initiatives in its first year.

"A major decision was on Project Air 87 - the Army's armed reconnaissance helicopters," he said.

"Eurocopter and Defence are now working up a detailed evaluation involving purchase of 22 Tigers, worth about $1.3 billion, and scheduled to be in service by the end of 2004."

Work has also started on a study to identify the operational concepts and functional performance requirements for an additional squadron of Army troop-lift helicopters.

Acquisition of these is currently scheduled to start next financial year with the aircraft entering service in 2007.

"These helicopters will provide extra mobility for forces on operations and enhance the ADF's capability to operate off the newly acquired and modified transport ships HMA Ships Manoora and Kanimbla.

"Also connected with the two ships is selection of the preferred bidder for the Army's new watercraft, capable of supporting the movement of battalion-sized groups."

The watercraft may be carried on the decks of the transport ships and will provide an enhanced capacity to offload tanks, vehicles, soldiers and supplies to a beach in significantly reduced time.

Mr Bransdon said proposals for an enhanced combat training centre for the Army have also been evaluated.

"This project will provide greater realism in field training, improving the Army's capability to conduct war-fighting and military support operations."

Defence also signed a contract for supply by Thales Optronics of 186 Thermal Surveillance Systems to complement other in-service night fighting equipment.

"They will increase the Army's ability to detect and monitor potential targets both day and night in all weather."

Successful tenderer, Tenix Defence Systems, was asked in November to provide quotes for a major upgrade of the Army's 350 M113s, which are scheduled to enter service around 2005.

"The draft contract was finalised earlier with vehicle mock-ups provided by the company."

Defence is currently evaluating tender responses to equip the Army's Leopard tanks with new thermal sights.

"The contract will provide a surveillance and gunnery sight in each tank for the commander and gunner, suitable for combat day and night in reduced visibility."

Mr Bransdon said work continued to consolidate existing ADF command systems into the single integrated Joint Command Support System.

"This involved a successful demonstration of the Defence Collaboration Tool Suite.

"The current phase of the project involves continuing rollout and enhancement of the Joint Command Support System and the Air Command Support System."