PETER LA FRANCHI / CANBERRA
Canberra hopes to make rolling purchases of Northrop Grumman UAV to spread costs
Australia has unveiled new details of its Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned air vehicle acquisition plans. Canberra hopes to make rolling purchases to ensure continuity with versions operated by the US armed forces and to spread acquisition costs.
The programme retains plans for a further round of funded Australian participation in the development of a maritime RQ-4 variant. This will be followed by three acquisition phases to build a fleet of at least six air vehicles by 2012. The first systems would become operational around 2009.
The plan continues to form part of Australia's Air 7000 programme, which includes a new manned patrol and response aircraft to replace the Royal Australian Air Force's Lockheed Martin AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft.
The phased approach is intended to allow Global Hawk UAVs to progressively take over a variety of maritime patrol missions performed by the AP-3Cs. In turn, the RAAF hopes this will facilitate an increase in AP-3C service life to around 2015. Earlier plans had called for retirement around 2007.
The new round of funded Global Hawk participation has been designated as Air 7000 Phase 1A. Internal Australian Department of Defence recommendations on how that phase will proceed will be considered by DoD capability committees before year-end, with Australian cabinet approvals planned for inclusion in the May 2004 budget.
The initial acquisition phase is designated Air 7000 Phase 1B, under which at least two air vehicles will be provided. Phase 1C will provide additional air vehicles and may expand the range of sensor payloads. The final acquisition tranche, Air 7000 Phase 1D, will expand the capability established in earlier acquisitions. Replacement of the AP-3Cs is designated Air 7000 Phase 2.
The Australian government will consider how to fund the Phase 1B, 1C, 1D and Phase 2 requirements in late 2006, with funding approval proposed for the 2007-8 defence budget.
Source: Flight International
