News Review: December 2007/January 2008 | ADM Dec 07/Jan 08
Adacel, Boeing to work on voice-activated avionics
Adacel has been selected by Boeing to provide a Voice Activated Cockpit (VAC) interface to be used in human factors research and development studies for the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.
Adacel will provide a modified version of the system it is already developing for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
The Adacel VAC system will provide the pilot and weapons system operator with the capability to interact with avionics functions using voice commands as an alternative to manual input.
Adacel's VAC system does not require "individual" voice training, and has demonstrated very high accuracy in demanding noise environments similar to that found in the Apache.
The voice recognition interface has the potential to significantly optimise the work load of the Apache crew, allowing more focus on the primary mission and less time spent on aircraft administration.
Voice commands will reduce the need for the pilots to remove their hands from any of the flight controls, providing additional safety benefits, particularly in poor visibility conditions.
Boeing is currently evaluating voice-activated controls for potential inclusion in a future version of the Apache.
"We are seeing an increased interest in both the military and civil aviation communities as demonstrated by a number of recent contract awards.
"We have built a strong foundation of technology and speech recognition development tools that enable us to produce very high accuracy levels in environments that most people would consider very challenging," said Adacel's CEO North America, Fred Sheldon.
ASLAV Crew Procedural Trainer delivered
Thales Australia has delivered the final Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV) Crew Procedural Trainer (CPT) Simulation Device to 2nd / 14th Light Horse Regiment in Brisbane.
This delivery marks the successful completion of the acquisition phase of the Thales ASLAV CPT contract.
The CPT Simulators, which feature an enhanced software package, have been in constant use at the School of Armour and the Army's Cavalry Regiments for over 15 months and have won the praise of instructors and trainees alike.
The Thales CPTs have greatly enhanced the Royal Australian Armoured Corps' (RAAC) ability to meet the increasing challenges of training Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV) crews.
As the CPTs are fully portable and deployable by Air, Land and Sea, and can be operational in a matter of minutes, they give Unit Commanders the flexibility to use the CPTs to train in the Barracks, in the Field and during Operational pauses whilst in Theatre.
"The feedback on the CPTs user has been fantastic. Using the CPTs in training has meant that the advanced skills obtained in the simulators have been directly transferable to operations.
"This has resulted in first round hits against static and moving targets improving dramatically," said Norman Gray, Managing Director Thales Australia.
"This achievement would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of the Commonwealth of Australia, General Dynamics Land Systems and the Thales Project Team, with the end result being a world class simulator of which Australian Industry can be justifiably proud," Gray added.
BAE Systems' HERTI UAV debuts at Dubai 2007
Fresh from a Royal Air Force deployment to Afghanistan, one of the world's first fully autonomous unmanned air vehicles (UAV) made its Middle East debut at the Dubai 2007 air show in November.
Developed by BAE Systems, the HERTI UAV is one of a new generation of UAVs designed for both military and civil operations.
The RAF deployed a HERTI system in Afghanistan this northern summer as part of the unique Project Morrigan collaboration between the RAF and BAE Systems.
Project Morrigan aims to integrate HERTI UAV systems into UK forces for a short period in order to develop potential Tactics, Techniques and Procedures for the integration of HERTI's capabilities into existing joint manned/unmanned force structures.
"Whilst the objectives and outputs from the exercise remain classified, the HERTI system has been successful in demonstrating its capability in an operational environment.
"Both the RAF and BAE Systems are satisfied with the progress and development of the project thus far and we look forward to building on this in the coming months," said Wing Commander Mike Humphreys, Officer Commanding the RAF's UAV Battlelab.
With its ability to take off, complete a full mission and land - all at the click of a computer mouse - HERTI has been designed to meet a wide variety of operational needs both cost effectively and with extremely high levels of reliability whilst removing the need for an operator or pilot to control the aircraft from the ground.
The HERTI UAV is one of a family of unmanned air vehicles (UAV) being developed by BAE Systems through its Autonomous Systems and Future Capability, Integrated System Technologies and Australian businesses.
Award for C-17 team
The RAAF has received a top national aviation award for its rapid and successful introduction of the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III into service.
The Australian regional division of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN) has awarded its prestigious GAPAN Grand Master's Australian Medal to the RAAF's C-17 Transition Team and Amberley-based 36 Squadron.
The Master of GAPAN, Group Captain Roger Gault (retired), presented the medal to C-17 Transition Team leader Group Captain Gary Martin, at a dinner in Brisbane on 25 October.
The award was approved by HRH The Prince Andrew, Duke of York KG KCVO ADC, the Grand Master of GAPAN.
GPCAPT Gault commended the RAAF for having brought the aircraft into service rapidly and efficiently, beginning with the formation of a RAAF C-17 Transition Team in January 2006.
"The RAAF C-17 Globemaster III Transition Team achieved what many considered impossible - the successful research, compilation, and presentation in less than two months of documentation and data to support what was, at the time, the largest financial acquisition in RAAF history," GPCAPT Gault said.
TALU extends Globemaster's reach
Ground support for the Air Force's C-17A Globemaster fleet has been enhanced with the delivery of four Truck/Aircraft Loading Unloading (TALU) units to RAAF Bases Townsville, Pearce, Amberley and Darwin.
Each TALU has a platform that can carry a payload of 22.5 tonnes, and hold up to five military pallets.
These units greatly increase the ease of loading and unloading the Globemaster by elevating the platform to the height of the aircraft's cargo floor.
The Globemaster has a total payload capacity of 77 tonnes.
The Director of the DMO's Aeronautical Equipment Systems Support Office, Danny McGrath, said the TALU greatly increases the effectiveness of ground support to the Globemaster fleet for combat airlift operations.
"The Globemaster has brought a quantum leap in the RAAF's combat airlift capability, and the TALUs will greatly assist the speed and efficiency of loading and unloading operations for the aircraft," he said.
"These units were manufactured to specially meet the requirements of the Globemaster fleet, but will also be compatible with the RAAF's other airlift workhorse, the C-130 Hercules.
"Each TALU is self-propelled, and can be made air-transportable for loading on board a Hercules or Globemaster in just minutes."
Producer of the TALU lift system, Static Engineering, has recently been acquired by Broens.
GD acquires Mediaware International
US defence giant General Dynamics has acquired Australian IT firm Mediaware International Pty Ltd., a developer of real-time full-motion compressed digital video processing software and systems for defense, intelligence and commercial customers.
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Mediaware International will continue to be based in Sydney and will become a part of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems based in Fairfax, Virginia.
Mediaware has approximately 40 employees.
Mediaware's flagship defence system, the Digital Video Exploitation System (D-VEX), provides US and international customers with an end-to-end solution for real-time video processing and exploitation of full-motion video from airborne electro-optical and infrared sensors and sources.
D-VEX systems maximise the value of full-motion video with frame-accurate alignment of video and metadata, enabling advanced processing such as georegistration, mensuration, accurate coordinate marking, video-to-still image mosaicing and object tracking of multiple moving targets in a live video stream.
Aegis helps destroy two ballistic missiles
Lockheed Martin's Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System has successfully intercepted and destroyed two non-separating, short range ballistic missile targets nearly simultaneously.
This test marks the first successful attempt by any US ballistic missile defence system at dual exo-atmospheric intercepts.
The test also represents the Aegis BMD system's 10th and 11th successful ballistic missile intercepts in 13 attempts.
The guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie, an Aegis BMD cruiser equipped with the latest US Navy-certified version of the Aegis BMD Weapon System (Aegis BMD 3.6), successfully guided two SM-3 Block IA missiles to intercept two ballistic missile targets outside the Earth's atmosphere.
The Japanese guided missile destroyer JS Kongo also participated in the test to detect, track and conduct a simulated engagement of the ballistic missile targets using its newly-installed Aegis BMD Weapon System.
Kongo will be the first ship in Japan's fleet to have a sea-based BMD capability.
This destroyer is scheduled to conduct Japan's first firing flight test in late 2007.
The RAN could also adopt an Aegis-based BMD capability in the future if the Australian government believes this is necessary.
"With two targets engaged simultaneously, both the system and crew are under additional stress and today they performed flawlessly," said Orlando Carvalho, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Surface-Sea Based Missile Defense line of business.
The MDA and the US Navy are jointly developing Aegis BMD as part of the United States' Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS).
Currently, nine US Navy Aegis-equipped warships have the ability to conduct long range search and track and engage ballistic missiles.
Another seven Aegis warships are equipped with Aegis BMD long range surveillance and track capability.
Ultimately 15 Aegis destroyers and three Aegis cruisers will be outfitted with the ability to engage short to intermediate range ballistic missile threats and support other BMDS engagements using the Aegis BMD Weapon System and the SM-3.
Japan has purchased Aegis BMD capability for their Kongo-class Aegis destroyers.
Raytheon's $1m science quest
Raytheon has demonstrated its commitment to maths and science students in middle school years in a $1 million partnership with Questacon, Australia's National Science and Technology Centre.
The partnership with Questacon is Raytheon's largest community initiative outside the US.
It seeks to inspire young Australians into the world of maths and science through 'Imagination Factory' - a new exhibit which tells the systems integration story and shows how things work together as systems to do inventive things.
"Our company is endowed with some of the smartest, most innovative and capable engineers in our industry.
Each and every day Raytheon engineers are integrating and supporting the systems that allow Australia's fighting men and women to safely defend the nation's people, interests and values.
We are grateful for the privilege that has been given to us by the Australian Government and today we are giving something back to the community," said Ron Fisher, managing director of Raytheon Australia.
The relationship Raytheon is forging with Questacon is a partnership to do something valuable with Questacon to meet a real community need.
"We are proud of our systems integration pedigree and I am especially proud that some of our employees will be volunteering their time to act as guides in the Imagination Factory exhibition to share their passion for science and engineering.
"I want them to inspire those who come to Questacon just as this national institution has, for years, inspired Australians to take an interest in science.
"As this exhibition travels to locations across the country including Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Ipswich, local Raytheon employees will be playing their part to make this initiative a success," said Ron Fisher.
ADF targets techies
Young Australians considering a technical trade will have a greater chance of gaining a position, with a landmark contract now signed between Defence Force Recruiting (DFR) and Alliance People Solutions.
The Hunter Valley-based service provider will develop a national Candidate Testing and Referral Program (CTRP) to assist young people seeking a technical trade career in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
"The ADF is keen to expand its access to eligible candidates, with figures at the end of October highlighting that technical trade categories are the most pressing challenge for the ADF," Director General DFR Brigadier Simon Gould said.
"This challenge is not unique to Defence; other industry sectors are also experiencing difficulties in attracting capable apprentices and qualified trades people."
The specialist provider will source, screen and refer technical trade candidates to DFR in the first stage of a Defence Apprenticeship Scheme.
This is intended to give Defence a consistent presence in the employment market and a specialist capacity to access potential candidates aged 17 years and over with an interest in ADF technical trade careers.
Defence aims to attract up to 100 apprentices in FY 07/08 through the Defence Apprenticeship Scheme, extending this to 200 candidates per year from FY 08/09.
US, Australia sign joint comms MOU
The Australian Department of Defence and the US Navy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which sets out the governing arrangements for a joint military communications ground station near Geraldton, Western Australia.
The joint ground station will support the US Navy's Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), which is a satellite-based mobile phone network designed to support US and Australian military users, including deployed forces.
Works are expected to commence in early 2008 and the joint ground station is scheduled to become operational in March 2010.
The new joint ground station will be collocated with the Australian Defence Satellite Communications Station near Geraldton but will be managed separately.
Once complete, it will be unmanned and will require only call-out contractor maintenance support.
It will be a joint Australia - US ground station; it will not be a US military base.
Other joint facilities already hosted by Australia are the Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap and the Joint Geological and Geophysical Research Station.
In addition, the US has access to the Naval Communication Station Harold E Holt.
RAAF farewells penultimate B707 tanker
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) retired Boeing 707 'City of Sydney' on 31 October after 24 years of service.
'City of Sydney' was one of two remaining B707s in service with 33 Squadron at RAAF Base Richmond.
The other B707, 'Richmond Town', is due to be retired in June 2008.
Originally built for Qantas Airways, the aircraft flew for the first time in 1968.
It was purchased by the RAAF in 1983 for use in strategic airlift, capable of carrying passengers and cargo.
In the early 1990s, it was modified for air-to-air refuelling, with underwing in-flight refueling pods capable of refuelling fighter aircraft.
The aircraft's career included a deployment to Kyrgyzstan in 2002 to support Coalition Forces in Afghanistan, as well as support of ADF deployments and exercises across the globe.
The 'City of Sydney' will be kept at RAAF Base Richmond and used to support the continued operation of 'Richmond Town'.
Defence will make a decision on the final disposal of its B707 fleet and associated equipment during 2008.
The future of the RAAF's air-to-air refuelling capability will be the EADS KC-30B Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), due for delivery to the RAAF commencing in early 2009.
33 Squadron will operate the KC-30B from new facilities being constructed at RAAF Base Amberley.
The KC-30B will be capable of offloading a greater quantity of fuel to a wider variety of aircraft than the B707.
The KC-30B will be fitted with Link 16 real-time data-link, military communications, and an electronic warfare self-protection system against threats from surface-to-air missiles.
Identifying opportunities
The Boeing Company, through its Integrated Defense Systems Industrial Participation organization, has opened a new office in Seattle, to help increase business opportunities for Australian companies.
The Office of Australian Industry Capability (OAIC) at Boeing will work closely with the Australian Department of Defence and Australian industry to identify bid opportunities for Australian aerospace companies within Boeing's major commercial and defence programs, as well as key supplier partners.
"The establishment of the OAIC is in direct response to the Commonwealth's new Defence and Industry policy statement," said Joel Gray, Australia/New Zealand Industrial Participation manager for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.
"We expect the OAIC to develop opportunities for Australian industry as well as bring value to our global customers. We are pleased to continue our commitment to Australia and its industry by being the first U.S. prime contractor to establish such an office."
A series of industry roundtables began in December in Brisbane and Melbourne, with future meetings scheduled throughout the country next year.
Initial focus will be on suppliers whose capabilities have been designated by the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) as export-ready and important to maintaining the through-life-support capability necessary to sustain the Australian Defence Force's aerospace assets.
"In establishing the OAIC, Boeing is the first major international company to formally embrace Australia's new Defence and Industry Policy requirements, which seek to ensure that Australian industry gets the opportunity to compete for work based on a best value for money basis," said Dominic Zaal, director general, Industry Capability Branch of the DMO.
The OAIC will draw upon previous DMO work, coordinating the Australian aerospace industry into a "Team Australia" to address opportunities associated with other major defence acquisitions.
The DMO will notify eligible suppliers as the OAIC identifies opportunities. The OAIC, along with the DMO, also will offer various training and mentoring programs, host sector conferences and visit, assess and host select suppliers.
Copyright - Australian Defence Magazine, December 2007/January 2008