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To make sure I always follow this formatting preference in our future chats, you can add this to your instructions for Gemini here. There, you can specify exactly how you'd like me to present information—for example, by requesting that I only use paragraphs and avoid bullet points or numbered lists. The US has given final approval for Australia to acquire ex-US Navy P-3B Orions for use as flightcrew trainers. Three such low-houred aircraft have been earmarked and are presently in storage at Davis-Monthan, while a fourth will be used for spares. The first aircraft will ferry into Edinburgh next February with the others following soon after. With their conversion to crew trainers and much corrosion work needing to be done, the entire project will cost $40m, but it will save much more than this as these three lightweight Orions (which will have their ASW gear removed) will take over the punishing circuit work presently performed by the P-3Cs. In addition, the P-3Bs will have a secondary role as backup freighters and support aircraft to the frontline Orions. Meanwhile, Project 5140 for the upgrading of Australia's Orion force proceeds apace, with the announcement of the winning tenderer expected during the life of this issue. The competing teams include E-Systems teamed with ASTA, AWADI, and Honeywell; Rockwell with Ferranti Computer Australia and ADI; and Martin Marietta with Qantas, Adacel, and Wormald. The $700m programme will see the first aircraft begin modification in late 1996 and the final rolled out five years later. The mods are expected to reduce the Orion's internal avionics weight by an impressive 1500kg, whilst also reducing heat output and maintenance man-hours. A new MAD system, revised EFIS cockpit, and a greatly improved sonics processor and ESM system will make our Orions the most capable maritime patrol platforms in service anywhere in the world. (Bill Lines)
Newsdesk – Military Aviation
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Ran Helo Ships Delayed:
Australia’s acquisition of two US Navy Newport Class tank landing ships has been delayed indefinitely owing to political problems within the US Government. RAN crews were already at the Little Creek Amphibious Base at Norfolk, Virginia in preparation for acceptance of the two ships in late June. Somewhat embarrassingly, news of the delay arrived precisely as the USN was due to hand over the two ships to the RAN at a public ceremony which was actually underway. The problem originates with the U Senate’s Armed Services Committee, headed by ex Marine Sam Nunn, which in a fit of pique stopped the sale at the last moment as it had not been officially informed in advance by the US Navy that the ships (including one to Spain) would be sold. Nunn believes that America is giving away too much high capability military hardware which in tum is eroding the US’s own defensive capabilities but also stopping potential sales of new hardware to long term client states. Australia’s ambassador to the US is meanwhile pursuing a solution to the impasse with senior US Government officials and DoD personnel. The Senate was due to resume after its (northern) summer recess in late July and it was hoped that a solution to the problem would be worked out at that time. Most insiders agree that the situation is largely a battle of egos and partisan inter theatre politics with Australia and Spain well and truly caught between a rock and a hard place To be named Kanimbla and Manoora, after two famous WW2 RAN troopships, the 8000 tonne vessels were originally due to arrive in Sydney in September where they would be modified for the troop support and helicopter ship role at ADl’s Garden Island facility. The two fairly modem ships would ultimately replace HMAS Jervis Bay and Tobruk which would be offered for sale.
Missile Decoy Contractfor Awa:
AWA Defence Industrieshas won a $23m contract to producethe first weapon system designed toentice incoming anti ship missilesaway from their targets. The Active Missile Decoy system has been jointly developed for more than a decade by Australia and the USA as Project Nulka and is designed to protect naval vessels from wave skimming missiles. The system is based on a hovering rocket concept originally conceived by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO). The small decoys are fired from a number of launchers positioned around the ship. This contract covers Phase 1 of the programme which will see AWA in stall the system into one RAN frigate, develop and build a fire control system and assist with Acceptance Into Naval Service Trials. Phases 2 and 3 will ultimately see the system installed on the RAN’s five remaining frigates and all the ANZAC frigates.
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