Defence Update

The first production unit of the Nulka system, in which AWA Defence Industries is the prime contractor, is under contract, with follow-on orders for the Navy’s FFG7 guided missile frigates, and later the new ANZAC frigates expected to be let progressively over the next few years.

The US Navy was a development partner in the joint development of the hovering rocket decoy system, and is expected to sign a further contract with AWADI in April or May 1995. Both projects resulted from painstaking research and engineering development by DSTO scientists, are seen as being worth many millions of dollars by way of RAN, and possibly bigger export orders.

The LADS project’s carriage is run through an operational support contract between the RAN and BHP Engineering teamed with Vision Systems in Adelaide. This joint venture provides the aircraft, aircrews and ground support. The Navy provides the operators and analysts. Operations to properly chart the Great Barrier Reef using the LADS technology have been conducted from Townsville, Cairns and Rockhampton.

Under the contract, which includes the provision of a laser platform, the US Navy will borrow a spare LADS system from the RAN, and conduct trials through to about December 1995 in a P-3 Orion. BHP Engineering and Vision Systems also intend stepping up activities designed to promote and market the LADS system to other countries in our region and further afield.

To further the Nulka system (originally known as Winnin), AWA Defence Industries created a separate business unit under its Aerosystems Division in south Melbourne. Aerosystems runs a team of about 40 project managers and systems engineers, handling the systems engineering involved in the project.

AWADI is manufacturing the flight control unit for the system at its Salisbury base near Adelaide. It has sub contracted manufacture of the canister in which the decoy is launched to Australian Defence Industries (ADI). AWADI then will carry out the assembly and integration. Some of this will be done in Melbourne, while others like the rocket motor being built by ADI, will be brought together at Mulwala near the Victorian border.

Delivery of the first system for installation on an RAN FFG frigate is timed for late 1996. AWADI then expects follow on orders, for the other five FFGs, and the eight ANZACs on order. AWADI first went on contract for Nulka in 1988. This was for full scale engineering development after taking over the programme from DSTO. The RAN tested the trial vehicles, including trials from the guided missile destroyer, HMAS Brisbane whilst sea trials also have been carried out in the USA.

The earlier stage of the project was the Joint Australia-US development under which AWADI was under contract to the Australian Department of Defence. The US Navy, which has money set aside in its budget, is expected to enter into a sole source contract with AWADI for a number of systems in the first half of 1995.