News Review: AWD combat system contracts signed | ADM Feb 2009

In December, the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Alliance signed a further three contracts for elements of the ships' combat system: for the Infra Red Search and Track (IRST) capability, anti-ship missile and torpedo countermeasures, and Navigation Radar.

"The most recent contract signings, worth about $20 million, mean the AWD Alliance now has in place contracts for six major components of the Australian AWD combat system.

"Further contracts worth a total value of more than $100 million are also likely to be signed by the end of the year," said Greg Combet, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement.

However, by early January no further announcements of combat system and other contracts had been made.

"Awarding these contracts on schedule is important in ensuring the AWD project is on time and on budget," he added.

"While it is early days in what is a complex and demanding $8 billion project, these latest signings provide assurance that the project continues to make good progress."

The first of the AWDs is scheduled for delivery in late 2014.

Most of the equipments were selected following a market survey, RFI and then and open tender process.

French firm Sagem has won the $10 million contract to provide the VAMPIR/EOMS Infra-Red Search & Track (IRST) System; this will provide passive IR detection, tracking and classification of objects within the surface, above surface, and land search volumes.

Under a $5 million contract Danish firm Terma will provide the Mk137 Counter Measure Launcher (CML), also known as the Soft Kill Weapon System (SKWS) to help protect the ships against inbound Anti-Ship Missiles (ASMs) and acoustic-homing torpedoes.

Each ship will be equipped with four deck-mounted 130mm Mk137 systems, a launch control computer, and launcher interface unit.

The Mk137 will support both passive and active decoys and is prepared for further DL-6T upgrade if required by the Royal Australian Navy at a later stage.

In 2003, Terma also supplied SKWS decoy systems for the RAN's upgraded FFG frigates.

The $3.1 million contract to provide the AWDs' Navigation Radar, Voyage Data Recorder, Automatic Identification Systems went to Australian firm L-3 Communications Nautronix Limited.

The company will prime the contact, working with sister companies L-3 SAM Electronics of Germany and L-3 Communications Aviation Recorders Division of the USA who manufacture the actual equipment.

The contract covers the L-3 SAM Electronics X-Band Navigation Radar, Electronics Voyage Data Recorder DEBEG 4300 and Protec-S AIS data recorder.

Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has won a $4 million contract to support Raytheon Australia in Phase 1, the study phase, of the Australian Tactical Interface (ATI) program to define the detailed requirements for the development and manufacture of the ATI.

The ATI is an integrated sensor control system designed to provide a clean, secure interface with the Lockheed Martin Aegis air combat system.

The Phase 1 contract is to assist the Alliance in defining the requirements for the development of the ATI and no preferred vendor for Phase 2 has been identified as yet.?

The AWD Alliance is also currently assessing bids to build the ship modules or ‘blocks' with a decision expected early in 2009, and recently signed the contracts for the building of its new headquarters at Osborne in South Australia.