The Royal Australian Air Force is planning to acquire a limited number of self-protection jamming pods for its Lockheed Martin AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft to improve survivability during over-land operations. The proposed A$20 million ($14.3 million) acquisition is scheduled for 2005-6.
Other enhancements will include improvements to the aircraft's electronic support measures system to provide additional signal processing capability, and an aircrew life-support equipment upgrade.
The service is also planning to acquire a limited number of air combat manoeuvring instrumentation (ACMI) pods for its Boeing AF-18A/B Hornet fighters. The project follows the formal rescheduling last February of funding for the development of a fully instrumented ACMI range at Delamare in the Northern Territory.
The air force also indicates it will proceed with a plan to arm its General Dynamics F-111 strike fighters with MBDA's ASRAAM short-range air-to-air missile, which will enter full operational service on its Hornet fleet next month.
Funding of up to A$20 million is proposed for release in the 2005-6 budget, with the F-111s to be capable of operating with the missile for the final three to four years of their planned service lives.
Source: Flight International
