By
LS Rachel Irving
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L-R:
CAPT Mal Adams SPO Project Director, Barry Barnes ADI FFG
Upgrade General Manager and CAPT Peter Murray sign the Certificate
of Delivery of the three trainers for the new combat systems.
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The
last of three ADI Operator Trainers at HMAS Watson was delivered
to the FFG upgrade project on August 26.
The Electronic Support Operator Trainer (ESOT), emulates the ship-fit
electronic support system and provides training for CSO(A) sailors
in the detection and classification of RF emitters.
The ESOT, integrated by ADI Limited, was built from equipment
supplied by Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd, AAI Corporation
(USA) and ADI IS3 as subcontractors.
The first of the operator trainers, a Command and Control Operator
Trainer (C2OT) was delivered to the RAN in November 2002. It was
designed and built by ADI IS3.
No courses have yet been conducted on the C2OT.
The second trainer, the Underwater Warfare System Operator Trainer
(UWSOT) was designed and built by Thales Underwater Systems Pty
Ltd and delivered to the upgrade project last month.
The UWSOT emulates the ship-fit sonar system and provides training
for CSO(U) sailors in aspects of underwater warfare.
All three operator trainers will commence operation in October,
providing training for the ship’s company of HMAS Sydney
and RAN instructors, to prepare for takeover of the training role.
Each trainer is a stand-alone system, however, an FFG Upgrade
Team Trainer is to be installed at HMAS Watson to provide integrated
Command Team Training.
The ESOT was accepted by Mr Mal Adams, the FFG System Program
Office Director, from Mr Barry Barnes, the ADI FFG Upgrade General
Manager in a ceremony in the Ritchie Building at HMAS Watson.
HMAS Sydney is the lead ship for the FFG upgrade with handover
to ADI Limited and production work scheduled to commence late
this month.
The upgraded FFGs will possess much improved processing and display
capabilities, as well as a Mk41 VLS, a range of new sensors and
decoy systems, and an integrated on-board training system.
