Australian defence minister Ian McLachlan is expected to unveil proposals soon for the acquisition of a new family of air-launched stand-off weapons for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in a procurement project known as Air 5398.
The statement, being made at ministerial level because of concerns that the Australian requirement may be challenged under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), is expected to spell out requirements for a stand-off strike capability with a range of several hundred kilometres. The date of McLachlan's statement depends on the timing of the next Australian Federal election, widely expected to be called within two months.
In November 1997, Australian defence officials revealed that the maximum range of any future Australian stand-off weapon purchases would be set at 500km (310 miles) - beyond the terms of the MTCR agreement - although it ruled out any acquisition of the Tomahawk cruise missile.
The requirement has been the subject of studies by the Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO)over the past year, and follows the selection of the Lockheed Martin AGM-142 Popeye missile by the RAAF to provide a basic stand-off capability.
The DSTO studies have concentrated on the potential for developing a common family of air-launched weapons. At least one option is a joint Lockheed Martin/ Rafael proposal for an advanced AGM-142, modified for extended range and mission capabilities.
The Taurus venture between Daimler-Benz Aerospace and Celsius Tech is offering a modified KEPD-250 equipped with a new US dual spectrum seeker head.
Matra BAe Dynamics is expected to offer an Apache/Storm Shadow derivative, while GEC-Marconi is promoting a Pegasus variant. Denel Kentron is also expected to compete, as is Boeing, with the RAAF having been briefed earlier this year on the SLAM-ER and Joint Air-to-Surface Missile.
Source: Flight International
