Direct fire weapons systems upgraded

Defence Minister Robert Hill recently announced three major projects worth $308.83 million to further upgrade the capabilities of the Australian Army.

The first is a $173 million project to equip infantry, special forces and cavalry units with medium-range direct-fire weapons.

“The new shoulder-fired guided weapons give soldiers the ability to attack armoured vehicles, bunkers and buildings at ranges over 2000m,” he said.

“The project provides enough missile launchers, ammunition, logistics support, simulators and training ammunition to equip high-readiness battalions and other units. The weapons are expected to be in service in 2006/07.”

The second project will see an extra $38.23 million spent on improving the Army’s vehicle fleet. The money will be used to upgrade heavy recovery vehicles designed to retrieve damaged or bogged heavy vehicles, procure six bulk liquid fuel tankers, address excessive cabin noise and make some of the vehicles safer by fitting protection systems.

The third is a $97.6 million project that will allow soldiers to exchange images, video, text and voice messages in the battlefield.

“Modern warfare requires that battlefield commanders get swift access to information to plan and conduct operations,” Senator Hill said.

“The Army will get new field equipment that will allow a web-type communication network to be established in the field, capable of handling voice, data, images and video.

“As the Air Force and Navy modernise their communications, a Defence-wide network will be established, making our Defence force more effective on the ground, in the air and at sea.”

Under the first phase of this project, a deployable brigade-sized joint task force will be equipped with the new digital communications from 2005.