iscover
The C-27J Spartan mobility aircraft has participated in every iteration of Operation Solania in 2025, providing airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability to scour the large maritime area for vessels conducting illegal, unreported or unregulated fishing.
Under the contract, Leidos will provide on-site sustainment services to Defence’s Joint Systems Division, Joint C4 Systems branch. This will include operational support, engineering services and training.
The RTAHC, which was closed for renovations in 2020, opened its doors again on 14 August as part of the 80th anniversary celebrations of Victory in the Pacific, with its first public open day on the following Sunday.
Defence Minister Judith Collins and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters confirmed the investment decisions of $2.7 billion, with the MH-60R Seahawk the preferred option to replace the existing maritime helicopters. The Airbus A321XLR aircraft will replace the ageing 757 fleet.
The drones were developed under Defence’s Sovereign Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) Challenge, which tasked local companies with designing and producing cost-effective, general-purpose platforms to support frontline operations.
The aircraft previously completed testing earlier this year, in which a single human operator onboard a RAAF E-7A Wedgetail was able to successfully control two Ghost Bats in a mission against airborne targets.
PROFILES
Raising the Bar in Commercial Laundry: How Rinse & Repeat Is Redefining Service for Aviation
Raising the Bar in Commercial Laundry: How Rinse & Repeat Is Redefining Service for Aviation
UPRT Australia- Transforming Aviation’s Greatest Risk into Its Greatest Asset
UPRT Australia- Transforming Aviation’s Greatest Risk into Its Greatest Asset
