Defence Update

Their cockpits would be modified to train new pilots and flight engineers. Apart from the purchase of the surplus P-3Bs,

the project also includes buying magnetic anomaly detectors for the operational aircraft.

The RAAF is understood to have also examined the possibility of a major upgrade of its P-3 simulator,better known as the Operational Flight Trainer (OFT) at the Edinburgh base, SA. This would be an expensive operation,and also would put the OFT down for a considerable time. The consideration also bore in mind that under the upgrade proposals, up to six Orlons would be off the flight line at one time. So it has been decided to keep the current simulator, and seek to buy additional P-3s. This would keep the fleet operational and also provide for training, bearing in mind that several P-3Cs are normally offline at any one time for maintenance at various levels. Following on from industry briefings at Point Cook, Vic last

October, a draft Request for Tender (RFT) went out to interested contractors on March 17for comment. It is returnable in eight weeks (ie mid May). The final RFT is then scheduled to be issued in mid June. Tenders close in mid-September for evaluation by the Project

Team and Air Force. Reports and recommendations then will flow to the (Defence) Force Structure Planning and Programming Committee (FSPPC) for final consideration. Contract signature for this high profile programme, estimated to cost more than $500m, and possibly up to $700m, now has slipped about 10 weeks from early 1994 to mid 1994 due to the magnitude of the task.

The contract will cover a major avionics systems upgrading so that the Orlons can continue to be operational with improved capability beyond the year 20 10. It is likely to run for about seven years, and have a high Australian Industry Involvement (All) component. The update involves a greatly improved surface surveillance radar, a new acoustic sensor, a new data management system and other specialist equipment.

The cockpit will have improved flight instruments, and associated displays tied to the new integrated systems, A major objective is to reduce weight in the P-3s and thus extend the life of the airframes. Six groups of companies,all containing overseas expertise, have shown considerable interest in the project. But only two at the time of going to press had announced their partnership arrangements.

The first team to be announced, in October last year, was that of Aerospace Technologies of Australia (ASTA), Victoria; Honeywell Australian, Sydney; and E-Systems, Virginia,USA. Earlier this year a second team was named; Hawker de Havilland Victoria (HDHV); Computer Sciences Australia (CSA); Lockheed Aeronautica Systems Company (LASC), USA; and Parama. x Systems Corporation, USA. The other contenders are understood to be linking with Boeing, GE Aerospace, McDonnell Douglas and Rockwell Australia.

The RAAF P-3 Update team is led by Wing Commander Ian White, working within the Air Force’s Materiel Division of which Air Vice Marshal Brian Grafis the Assistant Chief of Air Staff.