New air defence system

DEFENCE is to receive the Vigilare air defence command and control system following the signing of a $114 million contract with Boeing Australia Ltd for the system on March 1.

It will provide the ADF with the capability to support national surveillance and the air defence of Australia from operations centres at RAAF Bases Williamtown and Tindal.

It will be operated by the Surveillance and Control Group.

Vigilare will consolidate information from a variety of sources such as Jindalee, the Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, civil and military radars, fighter and maritime patrol aircraft, the RAN’s air warfare-capable ships and intelligence resources to produce a comprehensive picture of the skies above and around Australia.

This will enable the ADF to better respond to possible future incursions into Australia’s airspace by aircraft and missiles.

Vigilare will also provide high-tech communication facilities to enable ADF commanders to command and control widely dispersed air, sea and ground assets. These facilities will be networked with other ADF and allied surveillance and combat assets.

The system has been updated to reflect modern network centric warfare concepts by incorporating additional communications and sensors.

Boeing will maintain the Vigilare system under a five-year support contract valued at $114 million.

The first system is expected to be installed and operational at RAAF Base Tindal by mid-2007.

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