Air Power: Meggitt making a move | ADM Mar 2009
Specialising in training and combat systems, Meggitt Defence Systems initiated a long term strategy to increase their footprint and grow the business in the region.
Peter Stammers
The strategy commenced with the acquisition in late 2006 of FATS (Firearms Training Systems), a US company that designed and manufactured the Weapon Training Simulation System (WTSS) for the ADF.
The acquisition included FATS Australia (now Meggitt Training Systems (MTS) Australia) located in Albury.
MTS Australia is currently under contract by the DMO to operate and maintain the WTSS systems at major defence bases throughout Australia.
Meggitt considers the ADF a major strategic customer and intends to leverage off the good relationship that MTS Australia has worked hard to establish over the past 10 years.
Meggitt Defence Systems has design and manufacturing facilities in the US, UK and Canada that produce:
- Virtual and live fire training systems
- Aerial targetry (free flying drones, towed/glide targets and reeling machines).
- Unmanned ground and naval vehicles for live-fire training
- Scoring/Round Identification & Location Systems (both acoustic and doppler radar)
- Ammunition handling systems
- Environmental cooling systems
- Countermeasures
The company also has a global network of service centres that offer operations and maintenance to customers, including Albury and Singapore in this region.
Meggitt has also assessed a wide range of ADF projects where they feel their experience and products would be beneficial:
JP66 - Air Defence Target System
By the time this edition of ADM is published, a RFI for JP66 should have been issued with a RFT expected by mid 09.
Meggitt has many years of experience in the provision of aerial targets and services and are major players in the current UK CATS program through the provision of Banshee and Voodoo aerial targets, pop-up Helicopter target and scoring systems for all aerial targetry.
Expansion of the WTSS Project
There is currently 18 x 12-lane WTSS systems throughout the ADF with an additional 9 systems expected to be procured within the next 3 years as part of the Army's Enhanced Land Force (ELF) and Hardened & Networked Army (HNA) initiatives.
There has also been significant interest in virtual simulation training using motion platforms in conjunction with heavy weapons and vehicle trainers.
A recent example of this cutting edge technology is the Integrated Tactical Training Centre (ITTC) that Meggitt recently produced for the Singapore Police Coast Guard.
Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV)
The Wombat UGV (known as Badger in North America) is an excellent tool for training in anti-armour, heavy weapons, sniping, precision artillery and air-to-surface weapons.
The Wombat was evaluated in Puckapunyal last year and due to the success of this evaluation, it is envisaged that provision of an on-going capability of this nature will emerge in the future as a Minor Project within DMO.
Tiger Armed Helicopter Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) & Multi Role Helicopter 90 (MRH 90)
Meggitt is scheduled to brief Capability Development Group staff this month on the range of helicopter combat and training products currently in-service with the US and other militaries.
These include:
o Aerial Weapons Scoring Systems
o Ammunition Handling Systems (used in the US AH-64 Apache, UH-60 Blackhawk and AC-130 Gunship)
o Environmental Cooling Systems
Unmanned Sea Surface Vehicles (USV)
Meggitt has been promoting its Barracuda and Hammerhead unmanned sea vehicles for live fire surface-to-surface and air-to-surface training.
The Hammerhead was specifically designed to simulate a Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FIAC).
Up to 16 sea vehicles can be controlled to simulate a swarm attack and Meggitt is promoting this USV as a cost-effective "kill" target.
The company is hoping to introduce their USVs as part of the Fleet Marine Services Contract.
Live Fire Targetry
The ADF has many well established electronic marksmanship ranges with Projectile Locating Systems (PLS) that were originally provided by ADI (since acquired by Polytronic).
The opportunities that Meggitt perceives for this range of products are in the provision of targetry for MOUT ranges and thermal infantry/armour targets as well as targetty for the upcoming introduction of the F/A-18F Super Hornet.
In addition to Australia, Meggitt perceives many new business opportunities in the Asia/Pacific region.
With a solid footprint in Singapore, a lengthy/positive relationship with the Singapore Armed Forces and Singapore Police Coast Guard, and a history of successful sales/operations in aerial targetry, Meggitt intends to leverage off this success to win new business in the region.
Recent sales of virtual training systems in Indonesia and aerial targets in Malaysia and Taiwan are evidence that the strategy is working.
Meggitt Defence Systems (MDS) intends to continue to demonstrate their commitment to the region with regular visits by senior management from the US, UK and Canada.
In January this year Rich Haddad, President of Meggitt Training Systems, Inc. (Atlanta, US), visited the Land Systems Division of DMO in Melbourne to meet senior staff from Surveillance and Simulations Systems Program Office and measure the performance of MTS Australia.
Rob Davies, MD of MDS Ltd (UK) continues to visit Australia for JP66 discussions and Spence Fraser, General Manager of MTS Canada visited Australia last month to do presentations on USVs and UGVs.
If the strategy continues to go to plan, the name Meggitt will become very familiar among the defence community in Australia and the Asia/Pacific region.
Peter Stammers, a former Australian Army officer and FATS Vice President, is the Vice President for Business Development Asia/Pacific region for Meggitt.