Peter La Franchi/CANBERRA
The Australian Department of Defence has issued tenders for its Follow On Stand-Off Weapons (FOSOW) project with a planned Lockheed Martin bid based on the JASSM, expected to become a key test for US policy on technology release to Australia.
The project, Air 5418, will be contested by an Israeli Military Industries/Matra BAe Dynamics team offering the Delilah II, Boeing with the SLAM-ER and Land Attack Harpoon, Taurus Systems with the KEPD350, and Raytheon with HARM Block 6 and a powered version of the Joint Stand-Off Weapon.
The proposed Lockheed Martin bid has already seen repeated approaches to the Pentagon by some of the Royal Australian Air Force's most senior officials, who are seeking the necessary approvals for the JASSM to enter the contest. A possible JASSM bid was also discussed between Australian and US defence acquisition officials at the inaugural meeting of the two-nation Defence Acquisition Ministerial Council held in Washington in April this year.
Australia is the first member of the Western alliance to seek access to JASSM, with the missile still several years from entering the US inventory.
Tender specifications released on 19 September confirm the project will pursue a family of missiles to fulfil anti-radar, area denial and littoral target requirements. The weapons will mainly be carried by RAAF F-111s and AP-3C Orions and are required to enter operational service by December 2005.
The tender sets a warhead size ceiling of 500kg (1,100lb), equal to the baseline for disclosure under the Missile Technology Control Regime, and a preferred minimum range of 185km (100nm).
The tender calls for the missiles to have a positive target identification capability before starting terminal engagement and introduces requirements for a third party control and a loiter capability.
Source: Flight International
