It’s the Muppet show

By Geoff Swanton

STAFF from the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) involved in stores characterisation trials at Evans Head Bombing Range in New South Wales have acquired a new moniker for their mobile laboratory – the Muppet Lab.

Air Force support crew camping out on the range were impressed by the energy and enthusiasm of the DSTO team, jocularly comparing their activities to the antics of the Muppets characters Beaker and Dr Bunsen. As a result, the mobile lab was unofficially christened the Muppet Lab, and this became its call sign.

Seventeen DSTO personnel were present at the Evans Head range late last year to conduct research aimed at assessing the characteristics and suitability of a range of chaff and flare types for the F-111 fleet.

The lead-up to the trial involved months of planning among many different players from DSTO and several Air Force units, including the Aircraft Research and Development Unit, No. 82 Wing, the Strike Reconnaissance Systems Program Office and local range staff.

The trial involved the deployment of the Electronic Warfare and Radar Division’s brand new mobile laboratory, two support vehicles, plus millions of dollars worth of highly specialised recording and analysis equipment brought from Edinburgh in South Australia to Evans Head. Road upgrades and site preparations were required at the range to make the deployment possible.

The daily routine during the trial usually involved two sorties, with jets on range for between one and two hours each time. The mobile laboratory served as the main test site while the support vehicles were used to establish remote sites to capture data from different aspects.

Between tests, researchers were treated to some low -level action when other F-111s entered the range for practice missions.

And even with all this going on, one could still engage in a spot of whale watching, gaze at soaring wedgetails and dodge the odd snake or two.

The fortnight was a great success and highlighted the teamwork between DSTO and the various elements of the Air Force. Martin Godfrey, who was in charge of the flares characterisation element, said that the success of the deployment augured well for a potential future trial which would focus on the effectiveness of the countermeasures.

DSTO acknowledged the excellent support it received from the Air Force, particularly the local range staff and the team who deployed there.

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