News Review: Raytheon, DMO sign JP2072 EPLRS contract | ADM Mar 2011

Raytheon Australia has signed a $69 million contract with the DMO for the provision of Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS) and MicroLight radios and associated support under Phase 1 of JP2072.

JP2072 is a multi-phased project to provide the ADF’s integrated Battlespace Communications System (Land). This is critical to meeting the ADF’s objectives, including networking the Adaptive Army, and Phase 1 provides the digital radio backbone of the Battlefield Command Support System (BCSS) currently in service and for the Battlefield Management Systems to be procured under Land 75 and Land 125.

Raytheon’s contract includes over 1,000 EPLRS and MicroLight radios as well as ancillaries, spares, support and training. First deliveries under the contract are expected in the first half of this year. Minister for defence materiel Jason Clare said the radios will be mounted on Army vehicles, primarily Bushmasters and M113 armoured vehicles, along with handheld portable radios to be carried by soldiers in the field.

“These new radios will give frontline soldiers and the commanders directing them instant information on where they are, where they need to be and what is happening around them,” Clare said. “Right now, the Army is using an older, analogue system which is fast becoming obsolete. It’s served our troops well, but it’s time to move the Army forward into the digital age.

“This new system will be faster and more reliable. It’s the next step in our plan to deliver a fully digital communications system to the Army.”

The EPLRS and MicroLight radios are manufactured by Raytheon Network Centric Systems and are already in operation with US and Canadian Forces. Raytheon Australia’s managing director, Michael Ward said it was significant that the acquisition was being carried out by the DMO as a direct commercial sale with Raytheon Australia; this will deliver the capability quickly, affordably and with assurance that an in-country support capability will be established and maintained. To this end, support will include the provision of operational, maintenance, training and supply support mainly through the Raytheon Support Facility (RSF) located at Amberley in South East Queensland.