PETER LA FRANCHI / CANBERRA
Australia may reopen its Project Air 5418 Follow-On Stand-Off Weapon air-launched cruise missile competition, with the requirement about to be reviewed by Department of Defence committees.
Defence officials in Canberra are preparing revised costing guidance, with Lockheed Martin and Taurus Systems asked to submit new pricing earlier this year.
Lockheed Martin won the original competition in 1999-2000 with the AGM-158 JASSM. Taurus's KEPD-350 was kept in the competition after budget pressures prevented a contract award to Lockheed Martin.
Officials from the companies say a formal request for more information was received earlier this year, with the response date at the end of June. The request follows company-funded integration studies carried out by the contenders in the second half of 2002 and early this year.
The preferred acquisition model will be chosen before September. Recently explored options include proceeding with a JASSM purchase, asking for best and final offers from both contenders, a partial reopening of the competition to allow other weapons to be considered, or a full tender.
The DoD is hoping for Australian government funding in the May 2004 budget, with the near-simultaneous release of either an open or restricted request for tenders depending on the acquisition process.
The Royal Australian Air Force continues to seek service entry in 2007 for the new weapon, which would be carried by its Boeing F/A-18 Hornets, General Dynamics F-111s and Lockheed Martin AP-3C Orions.
MBDA will contest any revised competition with the Storm Shadow, which made its combat debut in the recent Iraq war.
A key issue in Australian decision-making is whether the missile it selects will be compatible with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which is intended to enter RAAF service from 2012. JSF weapons integration plans include JASSM and Storm Shadow, but not the KEPD-350. This means Australia would be required to fund KEPD-350 integration if the 1999-2000 competition result is overturned.
Source: Flight International
