• An Iraqi Army soldier (left) scans the area with night vision equipment during a night exercise at the Taji Military Complex, Iraq. Defence
    An Iraqi Army soldier (left) scans the area with night vision equipment during a night exercise at the Taji Military Complex, Iraq. Defence
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Around 35 registered representatives from industry attended CASG’s Land 53 Phase 1BR Tranche 2 (Emerging Night Fighting Technology) briefing in Melbourne on June 19.

Major Peter Ketton, from Soldier Combat Systems Programs at Army Headquarters. ADM Nigel Pittaway
Major Peter Ketton, from Soldier Combat Systems Programs at Army Headquarters. ADM Nigel Pittaway

Defence is seeking to acquire the latest generation of night fighting equipment under Tranche 2 of the Land 53 Phase 1BR program and the industry representatives heard details of a tight acquisition timeline, which will require the winner to be on contract by mid-2020.

Land 53 Phase 1 is being delivered in two tranches. Under Tranche 1, L-3 Oceania has been on contract since 2016 for the supply of Binocular Night Vision Devices (BNVDs), Laser Aiming Illumination Devices (LAIDs) and Laser Aiming Illumination and Ranging Devices (LAIRDs).

Tranche 2 began some time ago with the completion of a technology maturity assessment by DST and this has now transitioned into the acquisition phase, beginning with an Invitation to Register Interest (ITRI) activity. The future Phase 2 of the Land 53 project will seek a digital solution to night fighting requirements as technologies mature further.

Brigadier David Smith, Director General of CASG’s Integrated Soldier Systems Branch, told delegates that, like any other subsection of the ISS program, Phase 1BR Tranche 2 is to be regarded in the context of how it will complement and enhance the overall Integrated Soldier System (ISS) program.

“No decision is taken inside each of the individual sub-programs without thinking about the impact it is likely to have on the other sub-programs within the Soldier Combat System and whether that decision will result in an enhancement to the overall system,” he said.

“We are aiming to provide a capability overmatch against potential adversaries. That requires us to take an adaptive view and iterative approach to the business of acquisition, because our adversaries are constantly adapting. We’re about exploiting technologies and we’re about partnerships with industry to find out where those technologies might lie and how we can best exploit them with you, to deliver the effect.” 

The industry representatives were told that the ITRI process has been selected as the preferred method to support the relatively rapid acquisition timeline and it will narrow the field of potential bidders to a smaller a number – perhaps just one – with a limited Request for Tender (RFT) to be released later this year.

“This ITRI process is the simplest and most cost-effective way that respondents can notify Defence that it can deliver mature technologies that will supplement, augment or enhance the current Tranche 1 capability,” Sarah Bulford, Land 53 Phase 1BR commercial officer, said.

The closing date for ITRI submissions from potential bidders is July 13, with notification of the outcomes expected in late August, ahead of the limited RFT release.

“It is designed to be a relatively fast procurement (and) developmental systems will not be considered suitable,” Jamie Cooke, engineering manager for Land 53/1BR, said.

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