EMMA KELLY / PERTH
Aerosonde, EADS, Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Northrop Grumman have submitted unmanned air vehicle-based solutions for Australia's Civil Maritime Surveillance 2004 (CMS04) Project.
The Australian Customs Service recently called for expressions of interest, in a move that could see Australia become one of the first countries to use UAVs for civil surveillance (Flight International, 15-21 April). A request for tender will be issued in the fourth quarter.
Civil maritime surveillance is provided by 14 fixed-wing aircraft and two helicopters operated by Surveillance Australia and Reef Helicopters. The A$70 million ($46 million) a year contracts are due to expire from June 2004.
UAVs feature in several of the 43 proposals submitted by late May. The UAV manufacturers have registered interest as part service providers and are tight-lipped on partners as they position themselves to be part of a full service package. Australian UAV manufacturer Aerosonde, with part owner Saab Systems, is proposing its Aerosonde UAV.
The Eagle UAV is part of EADS's submission, along with CASA C295 maritime surveillance aircraft and Eurocopter helicopters. EADS confirms it is in talks with potential full service providers, as is Northrop Grumman with an RQ-4A Global Hawk-based solution, says Ken Crowe, vice-president of the US manufacturer's Australian division. Crowe says two Global Hawks could provide "substantially greater" coverage than exists today, adding that civil surveillance is a "potentially explosive area" of growth.
IAI has registered interest with Malat UAVs, Elta Electronic maritime patrol radars and Tamam electro-optic payloads, but declines to comment. The Israeli company is teamed with Boeing on the Australian Army tactical UAV requirement. Boeing Australia has applied as a full service provider but declines to disclose its CMS04 solutions.
Systems integrator Serco says it is forming a consortium to include an Australian project management company with imaging capabilities, a communications specialist, and surveillance and data transfer company CEA Technologies. Incumbent contractor Surveillance Australia is applying as a full service provider and is courting potential partners.
Other submissions include an integrated space, airborne and ground-based solution from Tenix Defence, a satellite-based platform from NEC Australia and an acoustic surveillance system from Zylotech.
Source: Flight International
