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AP-3Cs
increase ADF’s capability
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CAF
Air Marshal Angus Houston and L-3 Communications Integrated
Systems President Bob Drewes are briefed about the AP-3C.
Photo by LAC Jerry Patten and LAC Rob Welch
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THE
world’s best maritime patrol aircraft, the AP-3C Orion, will
operate from RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia after the Air
Force formally accepted the aircraft from contractor L-3 Communications
Integrated Systems (L-3).
Speaking at the acceptance ceremony, Chief of Air Force Air Marshal
Angus Houston said the AP-3C represented a leap in capability for
the ADF.
He said the AP-3C’s state-of-the-art maritime surveillance
sensors and mission systems made it the most capable Maritime Patrol
Aircraft in the world.
AIRMSHL Houston said the combination of the new “imaging”
radar with the Electronic Support Measures fitted previously would
improve the ADF’s capability in anti-submarine and anti-surface
warfare, reconnaissance, and search and survivor supply.
He praised the team working on the $922 million AP-3C Orion upgrade
project, particularly personnel working within Maritime Patrol Group’s
No. 92 Wing and the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO). He commended
the team for meeting its budget.
The aim of the project, being managed by DMO working with prime
contractor L-3, is to refurbish and upgrade the 22-strong P3 fleet
to extend its life until 2015.
The first two AP-3C aircraft under Project Air 5276 were delivered
to RAAF Base Edinburgh in October 2001.
The delivery enabled the Air Force to commence Operational Test
and Evaluation (OT&E) in January, while DMO and L-3 worked towards
formal Commonwealth acceptance. To date, six AP-3C aircraft have
been delivered to Edinburgh.
Prototyping and system integration of the first AP-3C was conducted
at the Raytheon Company facility in Greenville, Texas, with further
testing at Raytheon Australia’s production facility at Avalon
Airfield, Lara, Victoria. The integration of the mission and flight
systems has been a complex task involving substantial testing and
analysis in both Australia and the United States to ensure stability
and robustness of the systems.
L-3 will continue to deliver production aircraft to the Air Force
on a regular basis until the final aircraft is delivered in late
2004.
The Maritime Patrol Group’s Acceptance Transition and Evaluation
Unit has started an extensive OT&E program to certify the aircraft
in its various roles and to develop tactics and procedures. This
program will involve exercises with other ADF assets including the
Collins Class submarines and Anzac Class Frigates.
As part of OT&E, the AP-3C has participated in Exercise RIMPAC
2002 in Hawaii, where two Harpoon Missiles were successfully launched.
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