Sea 4000 - AII and the AWD

Aside from actual ship construction - a given for local industry - there is potential for a major contribution from Australian industry in the provision and integration of weapons, sensors, communications and command and control systems of the proposed new Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD).
The Defence White Paper argues that, without a long range air defence capacity in the naval fleet, our ships would be more vulnerable to air attack, less capable of defending forces deployed offshore and less capable of contributing to coalition naval operations.

It therefore plans to replace the FFG-7s when they are decommissioned from 2013 by a new class of air-defence capable ships. These are expected to be significantly larger and more capable than the FFGs, with the project scheduled to commence in 2005-06. The government's 'strong' preference is to build the ships in Australia.

Whether the ship design selected for local construction turns out to be a derivative of those about to enter service now or an entirely new concept, akin perhaps to a down-scoped DD21, remains to be seen.

The word is that none of those European AWD designs inspected since the Anzac WIP was cancelled are seen as suitable for a new class of ship that won't hit the water until around 2012. Further, there is a strongly held view at the most senior levels of Navy that Australian technology should be a major feature of the ship's combat system.

With extensive and growing resources in its Maritime Operations and Weapons System Divisions, and its significant analytical and research capabilities, such as the Combat Systems Research Centre, DSTO will play a major role in the development of this country's AWD requirement, and in bringing it to fruition. It is anticipated that DSTO will enter into alliances with industry in the development of the AWD combat and other ship systems.

The shaded areas in the adjoining diagram indicate the extent to which Australian industry could either partially or fully supply the noted component of a ty
This listing is indicative rather than exhaustive and doubtless excludes a number of suppliers/integrators who have, or will have at the AWD design stage, both products and capabilities with the potential for incorporation in the combat system.

Radar(s) - CEA-FAR active 3D phased array radar. One of the Anzac ships is to be equipped with a CEA-FAR radar which may demonstrate its capabilities in the anti-ship missile defence (ASMD) application and also its potential for the air defence role. A short range version is currently under production for a US customer.

Direction finding - CEA's DF equipment currently supplied to the RAN.
Electro-optic and Infrared - Auspace undertakes a wide range of E/O instrument design, development and support in the UV, visible and infrared.

Towed array sonar - two units developed by Thomson Marconi Sonar (TMS) are being trialled for Anzac and Collins.

Low Frequency Active and Passive sonar - This towed LFAP sonar, under development by TMS for surface combatants such as the FFGs and Anzacs, is for tracking sub-surface and surface ships, as well as very low flying aircraft, which may produce an acoustic signature, operating in open ocean and the littoral.

Mine Avoidance and Torpedo Detection Sonar - FFGs and Anzacs will be equipped with TMS Petrel mine avoidance sonar.

Hull mounted sonar systems - It is anticipated that TMS will be able to offer an Australian derivative of the Spherion hull mounted sonar.

Decoy - NULKA active missile decoy (BAE Systems Australia).
Gun(s), Torpedo - ADI Ltd provides ammunition and fills warheads with HE formulations.

Missile systems - CEA's CEA-MOUNT is an active phased array illuminator primarily designed to use with the SM-2 and ESSM missile. An Advanced Technology Demonstrator (ATD) is scheduled for completion in the near future.

Internal & external communications - CEA Technology has produced both the internal and external communications for the Minehunter Coastal. Other potential suppliers of maritime communications include ADI Ltd and BAE Systems Australia.

SATCOM - Telstra Defence, Optus Communications, BAE Systems, Mitec and Auspace are among local companies involved in the provision of mobile/satellite communications networks, ground stations, and equipment.
Tactical Data Links - Australian Technology Information (ATI) will have a major role in the integration and testing of tactical data links with deployable dockside facilities for testing and training.

Commander Task Group and Command & Control - SAAB Australia has developed the command and control system for the Anzac ship and the Army's Battlefield Command Support System. SAAB is also developing a COTS version of the Anzac command and control system. It is reported that SAAB Australia staff are involved in the integration of the combat system in the Chilean Navy's four new MEKO frigates.
Raytheon Systems Company Australia has considerable local expertise in combat and weapon control system architectures including local support and modification to the original Collins submarine combat system. Raytheon is one of two contenders for the new Collins combat system.
Data Fusion - CEA Technologies is providing the data fusion system for the FFG upgrade.

Target Classification - CEA Technologies is also working on a number of target classification programs.

By Tom Muir, Canberra