The Australian Government has announced that it is prepared to invest up to AUS$2 billion in a Range Ground Based Air Defence system to improve protection for the country’s deployed personnel.
Minister for Defence Senator Marise Payne said the project will be the first step in the development of the Australian Army’s contribution to the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) Integrated Air and Missile Defence Program announced in the 2016 Defence White Paper.
The system is intended to ‘provide the innermost layer of Australia’s enhanced integrated air and missile capability’. The new capability will be operated by the Army’s 16th Air Land Regiment.
A Single Supplier Limited Request for Tender will be released to Raytheon Australia in the first half of 2017 to develop its National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) for the ADF. Raytheon will also investigate using Thales Australia’s Hawkei protected mobility vehicle, manufactured in Bendigo, Victoria, as a potential platform for the system’s missile launchers.
The Australian Department of Defence will complete a detailed analysis prior to returning to government for final consideration in 2019.
Minister for Defence Industry, Christopher Pyne MP, said the project would seek to maximise Australian industry content to ensure the investment helps deliver local jobs and economic growth.
He commented: “Through a Risk Mitigation Contract, the Government will ensure there are opportunities for Australian industry participation, with direct access to Raytheon Australia for local businesses to showcase their abilities. As part of this contract Raytheon will hold workshops across the country to engage with local industry, giving them an opportunity to be part of the supply chain for this project worth up to $2 billion.
“Defence will collaborate with Raytheon Australia and Canberra-based CEA Technologies to look at integrating the firm’s radar into an upgraded NASAMS. CEA Technologies’ ground-breaking phased array radar system has already been incorporated into Australia’s ANZAC Class frigates and this project will trial the technology in a land-based role.”
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