Raytheon Systems Australia has been selected as the preferred bidder for the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN)airborne electronic warfare training services (EWTS) programme.
A 10-year commercial support programme contract worth an estimated A$60 million ($35 million) is expected to be finalised later this year, with initial operations starting early next year. Raytheon is teamed with CSC Australia, the US-based Flight International and the UK's EW Simulation and Training.
Raytheon's defeated teams headed by Tenix Defence Systems, Aeropearl, National Jet Systems and FEL. A decision on the project had been expected in April, but was delayed after the RAN failed to request funding in the May Australian defence budget.
The new system will replace the RAN's two British Aerospace 748 EW training aircraft, which were retired earlier this year.
The decision is an important Australian win for Raytheon after recent losses on key projects such as the Project Wedgetail airborne early warning competition.
Source: Flight International
