Canberra to invest $230m in return for work packages
Australia will later this month launch formal negotiations to join the system development and demonstration phase of the US Navy's Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) programme.
Canberra anticipates injecting A$300 million ($232 million) into the programme as its joining fee. In return it is seeking guaranteed work packages for Australian industry worth A$500 million across the MMA project. The USN is seeking to have at least one agreement signed with three potential international partners by September, when a critical design review is scheduled. The other candidates are Canada and Italy.
Preliminary technical discussions on Australia's MMA membership were conducted with the USN last year. Australia has had formal observer status on the MMA programme since late 2002.
Australia is looking to replace its 18 Lockheed AP-3C maritime patrol aircraft from 2013 in a project known as Air 7000 Phase 2. Provisional project costs are forecast at A$3.5-4.5 billion.
The Royal Australian Air Force's Lockheed EP-3C electronic intelligence aircraft is expected to be replaced by a single high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air vehicle as part of Australia's planned acquisition of five endurance UAVs.
In parallel to exploring membership of the MMA programme Australia has also examined the option of a major airframe life extension for the AP-3Cs.
The Royal Australian Air Force last month accepted the last AP-3C aircraft into operational service after a multi-year upgrade programme by L-3 Communications and Tenix Defence Systems.
The EP-3C "Project Peacemate" aircraft is undergoing airframe and avionics overhaul in the USA, having been modified from a standard maritime patrol aircraft to a configuration similar to the USN's Aries II EP-3C standard in the mid-1990s.
PETER LA FRANCHI/CANBERRA
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CRAIG HOYLE
Source: Flight International
