Raytheon Australia and Air Affairs Australia have signed a teaming agreement that outlines a significant expansion of Australia’s Electronic Warfare Training Services (EWTS) capability. The new partnership will allow Defence forces to train in complex, high-threat electromagnetic environments.
Raytheon currently delivers real-world simulation, testing and training services for the Royal Australian Navy and ADF utilising two of its Learjets. The teaming agreement expands the current fleet of special mission aircraft available for delivery of EWTS.
EWTS missions are complex and involve sophisticated EW system training, test, experimentation and evaluation trials, radar jamming and deception, communications denial and deception and radar threat simulation.
“Electronic Warfare will play an increasingly critical role in the battlespace of the future,” managing director Raytheon Australia Michael Ward said. “As the demand for sophisticated EW training systems grows, Raytheon Australia and Air Affairs Australia will be ready to respond and support Defence.”
Air Affairs Australia owns and operates a fleet of 13 special mission Learjet aircraft that offer specialised air training support services to Defence.
“The combination of Raytheon Australia’s EW pedigree with Air Affairs’ high capacity special mission air operation will provide Defence the advanced capability it is seeking,” managing director Air Affairs Australia Chris Sievers said.
In the last two years, Raytheon Australia and the Commonwealth have jointly invested more than $5 million to upgrade Australian EWTS capabilities. Recently the company marked the 2,500th mission completed by its airborne EWTS team.