Orion upgrade to go ahead
29 Aug 2008
The Commonwealth will spend $68 million on a program to provide enhancements to the ADF’s Maritime Patrol Capability to upgrade the AP-3C Orion, Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon has announced.
AIR 5276 Capability Assurance Program 1 (CAP 1) will equip the whole AP-3C Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft fleet (Orion fleet), with modern electro optic/infra red sensors, a high data-rate communications system (tactical common data link), and a replacement video recorder system.
Aircrew training and engineering support will also be provided to bolster this modern technology.
Mr Fitzgibbon is confident CAP 1 will improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and safety of Orion fleet missions.
“This valuable real-time information and high-speed streaming of data will further allow us to support a wide range of allied and coalition armed service partners, as well as Air Force units, the Australian Army and Navy, Australian Federal Police and Coast Watch,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
“The information gained from this technology will help protect coalition forces by warning them of hostile or suspicious activity.”
CAP 1 has been developed in partnership with Australian industry through the P 3 Accord, which is an alliance between the Defence Materiel Organisation, BAE Systems and Australian Aerospace Ltd.
The common fit of this equipment across all aircraft, training and support systems, and the improved in-service logistics support structures put in place by the project, are also expected to result in a significant improvement in maintenance productivity.
Improvements
Defence Minister Fitzgibbon said CAP 1 will improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and safety of Orion fleet missions.
More News
- Boeing by any other name
- 21 Nov 2008
Boeing has undergone a name change and reorganisation in the Australian market. - Two-faced a good thing for CEA
- 21 Nov 2008
CEA have achieved a milestone in its upgrading of the ANZAC Frigate Anti-Ship Missile Defence. - New partnership for MilCIS
- 21 Nov 2008
The Defence CIOG and UNSW/ADFA have pooled their resources to co-host the MilCIS Conference. - Can you blame them…?
- 21 Nov 2008
The recent tragedy onboard a Russian-built submarine has caused India to rethink its decision to send its Navy personnel to train in Russia.
Future submarine
Project SEA1000, the future submarine, is upon us in more ways than one.
But what will the Collins replacement look like?
Will it be ready in 2025 when the first Collins is due for retirement?
How will the public react to a program that will last longer than 4-5 election cycles and cost more than any other Australian defence program in history?