The local subsidiary of R&D company SRC Aus has expanded operations after winning a $17 million contract to produce data sets for operational missions for the RAAF F-35A Joint Strike Fighter.
In opening SRC Aus’ new Canberra office on Monday, Defence Minister Christopher Pyne announced the company would deliver the 'Ghosthawk' mission support system to be used to produce trusted mission data sets, providing jobs for 15 engineers in Adelaide and 8 in Canberra.
“SRC Aus will play a vital role in developing our fifth-generation air combat force. Ghosthawk replaces our existing mission information systems with an integrated, next generation intelligence support system capable of collecting, manipulating and disseminating data to our pilots and their aircraft.
“The data from Ghosthawk underpins the key information advantage the JSF will bring to the Air Force – data on weapons, radars, other aircraft and EW systems, all integrated with the fighter’s on-board suite of advanced mission sensors to create unsurpassed situational awareness.”
Minister Pyne added the work will grow expertise in the field of complex electronic warfare information and analysis, and develop a uniquely Australian information product for the JSF.
In addition to the contract, SRC Aus’ parent company SRC Inc. is under contract for developing the Ghosthawk mission support system valued at $92.7 million.
In a statement issued by SRC Aus, the company declared the total contracts will support software development and engineering analysis critical to the successful operation of the JSF in Australia.
“Under this effort, SRC Aus, supported by expertise from its parent company, SRC in the United States, will provide intelligence mission data (IMD). The Adelaide team will be located on government premises at the Defence Science Technology Group's Edinburgh precinct within the Joint Electronic Warfare Operational Support Unit (JEWOSU).”
Darren Robertson, vice president of SRC Aus, said the program represents the first step in developing these key EW technologies in Australia and establishing SRC Aus as aleader in IMD and mission data.”