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The
Air Force’s AEW&C fleet will rise to six with the Government’s
decision to buy two more of the aircraft.
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THE
purchase of two additional Wedgetails will almost double the ADF’s
airborne surveillance and control capability.
The Government announced in the Federal Budget that it would spend
$326 million to upgrade the AEW&C fleet from four to six, exercising
an option it had in its original contract with Boeing.
The decision came a week ahead of the first test flight of Australia’s
Wedgetail aircraft at Seattle in the US, where the aircraft are
being built.
The Budget also allocated $38 million for new and redeveloped
facilities and infrastructure at RAAF Base Williamtown for the
introduction into service of the AEW&Cs.
Group Captain Geoff Brown, OC AEW&C Systems Project Office, said
the investment in the two extra aircraft would provide a significant
boost to the ADF.
“To maintain a 24-hour, sevenday-a-week surveillance of just one
area can take up to three aircraft. Six aircraft allow us to maintain
continuous coverage of two separate areas,” GPCAPT Brown said.
“The acquisition of the additional aircraft gives the ADF a far
greater capability in both the defence of Australia and deployed
operations.
“Accurate and timely surveillance is essential to Australia regardless
of the type of future operation Australian forces may be required
to participate in.
“With the spares package that is being arranged for support of
the aircraft we expect to have a very high probability of having
five of the six aircraft operational at any one time and a reasonable
probability of all six being available for operations should they
be required.”
The Government announced that four of the six AEW&Cs would be
modified in Australia.
Neither the purchase of the extra two aircraft nor the need for
additional aircrew will delay the original timetable for the fleet’s
delivery.
“The first two aircraft will be delivered in November 2006. Aircraft
No. 3 may be delivered earlier than the original schedule because
of the production move to Australia, and the rest of the deliveries
will remain unaffected,” GPCAPT Brown said. “We have planned on
generating sufficient crews to operate all six aircraft. The initial
support contract covers the operation of all six aircraft.”
He said the AEW&Cs would have the ability to data link to other
airborne platforms and Navy ships. And Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
that are proposed for future acquisition would complement the
Wedgetails.
“Both aircraft will form important nodes in the ADF’s Intelligence
Surveillance and Reconnaissance Architecture,” GPCAPT Brown said.
“For example, on an operation where you might be trying to locate
a moving target, the ESM system on Wedgetail may give an initial
indication on where the target is, the UAV could then be positioned
to send back imagery of the target. The AEW&C would then direct
strike fighters to destroy the target.”
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