AUS: $409 million upgrade to Defence air traffic control facilities

The Australian Parliament has approved a $409 million project to upgrade Defence’s air traffic control facilities.

Assistant Minister for Defence Michael McCormack today announced new and upgraded facilities will be constructed at 13 Defence bases and five off-base radar sites across Australia.

“AIR 5431 Phases 2 and 3 Air Traffic Management and Control System Facilities and Australian Defence Force Air Traffic Control Complex Infrastructure Project is a joint program between Defence and Airservices Australia,” Mr McCormack said.

“This project will upgrade Defence’s air traffic control towers and airfield systems complexes that are aged, deteriorated and no longer fit for purpose, as well as provide new and upgraded facilities and infrastructure to support the OneSKY initiative.

Australia’s OneSKY initiative will improve aviation efficiency and safety by bringing civil and military air traffic control together under a common, single air traffic management system for the first time.

“The project is expected to offer economic benefits for the local construction industry including trade contractors and materials suppliers between 2016 to 2021 – which is a great boost for local jobs,” Mr McCormack said.

AUS DoD

Think Tank: Flight Path (3-Mar-2015)

By Palmo Tenzin

This week reviews all the news from the Avalon international Airshow and Biennale IDEX events, the latest on drones, fifth-generation fighters, China’s military capability, and a debate on the US Long Range Strike-Bomber.

The Avalon Airshow and Exposition closed over the weekend after hosting over 600 companies from more than 20 countries. Like many companies that used the show to promote their products to buyers in the region, Bell Helicopter targeted the ADF, pitching their AH-1Z Viper helicopter as an alternative to a marinised Tiger as a maritime-attack platform for Australia’s two landing helicopter dock (LHD) amphibious assault ships.

At Avalon, DMO expressed plans to enter into an agreement with the US Navy to influence the future development of the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton maritime-surveillance unmanned aerial system. The announcement fits in with a broader RAAF strategy to use Triton UAVs alongside the P-8A to patrol Australia’s northern maritime regions. More details on this and Australia’s plans to purchase $300 million worth of armed ‘Reaper’ drones are expected in the upcoming Defence White Paper.

Industry: (Australia) Thales to secure critical step for OneSKY Delivery

Thales has been chosen to commence work with Airservices Australia and the Department of Defence on the development of Australia’s OneSKY program, integrating civil and military air traffic control into a single and harmonised ATM system.

Thales has entered into an Advanced Work contract arrangement which is the critical initial step for the delivery of the OneSKY program. This will help enable the delivery of a state of the art system that will bring further improvements to the already safe and efficient movement of millions of passengers in Australia every year.

The system will achieve world’s best practice, incorporating advanced technologies to manage predicted future increases in air traffic volumes. For the first time in global history, one company will provide a truly integrated large-scale single system for civil and defence purposes.

AUS: Wedgetail Endurance Mission

Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft recently made history for the longest Australian command and control mission in a war zone during a combat mission over Iraq.

At 16 hours and 18 minutes, the E-7A Wedgetail’s mission entailed the command and control of large numbers of Coalition aircraft operating in Iraqi airspace as part of the multi-national air campaign confronting ISIL.

Commander of Australia’s Air Task Group, Air Commodore Steve Roberton commented on what the endurance mission meant for Australia’s air power capability.

“After already being ‘on station’ for a number of hours, the Australian Wedgetail crew was advised the Coalition aircraft due to relieve them was delayed,” Air Commodore Roberton said.

AUS: Acquisition of new deployable Air Traffic Management and Control Systems

The Australian Government has purchased deployable Air Traffic Management and Control Systems for the Royal Australian Air Force.

Defence Minister Senator David Johnston today said the new systems would enable the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to use radar to control aircraft and manage airspace for missions within Australia and overseas.

“This acquisition will assist the ADF in managing airspace during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, as well as deployed combat operations, either independently or integrated with our allies,” Senator Johnston said.