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Major Defence Capital Equipment Projects |
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(Source : Australian Ministry of Defence ; issued May 22, 2001)
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 The Australian Ministry of Defence has approved 38 major capital equipment projects totalling around $5.5 billion have been approved for Defence in this budget. These projects will generate expenditure of around $509 million in 2001-02.
The Government's major capital equipment package is in line with a Key Finding of the Report of the Defence Community Consultation Team, that 'the public supports an increase in defence funding, and that the majority of the public viewed increased investment in our military capabilities as a prudent insurance measure.'
Background information on the equipment projects:
LIGHTWEIGHT ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE TORPEDOES
Air and surface platform based anti-submarine warfare is an integral part of Australia's anti-submarine defences. Both surface and air based anti-submarine assets employ lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes to counter submarine threats detected in waters of variable depth.
This project seeks to acquire lightweight anti-submarine warfare torpedoes to be deployed from platforms such as AP-3C Orion aircraft, Seahawk and Seasprite helicopters, and ANZAC and Guided Missile Frigates (FFGs).
The ADF currently employs Mk 46 Mod 1 Phase II and Mk 46 Mod 5A torpedoes from ships and aircraft in the anti-submarine warfare role. The Mod 1 torpedoes are expected to reach the end of their economic life in 2005.
The New Lightweight Anti-Submarine torpedoes will provide an enhanced anti-submarine warfare capability and replace ageing torpedo stocks.
The first elements of this capability are expected to enter service from 2005.
This project will contribute to Defence Output 2: Navy Capabilities and Defence Output 4: Air Force Capabilities.
ADDITIONAL EVOLVED SEASPARROW MISSILES (ESSM) FOR ANZAC SHIPS
The Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM) system incorporates some of the latest technology in anti-ship missile defence. Australia is part of a consortium of 10 nations participating in the development of the ESSM to replace the NATO Seasparrow missile (NSSM) as a primary anti-ship missile defence system.
This phase of the project will integrate the Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM) system into ANZAC ships and purchase missiles stocks. The ESSM system will enhance ship missile defence capabilities by providing both more effective missiles and a larger number of missiles per ship. This will increase the survivability of ANZAC ships and crews by improving defences against next-generation anti-ship missiles.
The purchase and integration of missiles, and the modification of existing vertical launch systems in ANZACs 05-07 (05-WARRAMUNGA, 06-STUART and 07-PARRAMATTA), was previously approved.
This project will acquire and integrate ESSM on the last three ANZACs (08-BALLARAT, 09-TOOWOOMBA and 10-PERTH), and retrofit the system in the first two ANZACs (01-ANZAC and 03-ARUNTA).
The first elements of this capability are expected to enter service from 2004.
This project will contribute to Defence Output 2: Navy Capabilities.
ENHANCED COMBAT TRAINING CENTRE FOR ARMY
The training conducted at instrumented combat training centres is an important part of developing improved combat unit effectiveness. This is achieved through the use of instrumented data collection for the post-exercise assessment of combat performance and effectiveness, allowing an objective assessment of unit readiness and combat skills, and more focused training.
This project will provide the ADF with an enhanced Combat Training Centre that will provide greater realism in field training than is possible with traditional training methods. This will enhance Army's capability to conduct war-fighting and military support operations.
The proposed capability will include (at company level) instrumented training and a suite of weapons effects simulators for direct and indirect fire weapons systems. The acquisition of this training centre will enable the ADF to develop and maintain a high level of proficiency in contemporary combat skills.
The first elements of this capability are expected to enter service from 2006.
This project will contribute to Defence Output 3: Army Capabilities.
EXTENSION OF THE WORKING LIFE OF THE CARIBOU LIGHT TACTICAL AIRLIFT
The Caribou aircraft currently performs both troop and cargo transport functions. The most cost-effective means of continuing to provide this light transport and tactical airlift capability for the ADF over the medium-long term is to extend the life of the ADF's Caribou aircraft for ten years. The acquisition of a replacement Light Tactical Airlift Capability (LTAC) will be considered at the end of this decade.
The ADF has 14 Caribou transport aircraft that provide the capability to operate from short airfields with rough or soft surfaces. This capability allows for the supply and resupply of combat forces in locations where larger aircraft are unable to operate due to the limited length or condition of the landing strip, and where rotary aircraft are either unavailable or not appropriate for the nature of the supply task.
This project will extend the operation of the Caribou to 2010, from the previously planned withdrawal date of 2002/03. This project provides funds to cover increased maintenance costs associated with supporting a 35 year-old aircraft, and to cover costs associated with sustainment of engines and other aircraft equipment. Funding will also replenish stocks of spares, which were deliberately drawn down in anticipation of the aircraft's withdrawal from service.
Funding will be provided to support this capability from 2001/02.
This project will contribute to Defence Output 4: Air Force Capabilities.
ADDITIONAL POINT GROUND BASED AIR DEFENCE (GBAD)
ADF ground elements are vulnerable to air attack. Current ADF ground based air defence (GBAD) systems are able to protect a limited number of ground facilities such as operating bases, airfields or port facilities, and focal points such as a headquarters or logistics units. During sustained operations, land forces would disperse widely away from such protected areas. Additional GBAD equipment will provide these units with the ability to defend themselves against hostile air attack.
The ADF's current GBAD capability is provided by 16th Air Defence Regiment with supporting training, logistics and maintenance organisations. The Land Force component of the capability is represented by batteries of short-range air defence weapons systems. The current weapons systems are Rapier Surface to Air Guided Weapons, and RBS 70 Surface to Air Missile System.
Rapier has had its life of type extended from 2000 to 2005, and it is proposed that current in-service RBS 70 equipment will be upgraded to extend its life of type from 2005 to 2015.
The procurement of additional sets of RBS-70 Surface to Air Missile Systems will provide GBAD to additional point assets such as headquarters or logistics units. This will enable point asset protection tasks in a number of areas of operations.
The first elements of this capability are expected to enter service from 2005.
This project will contribute to Defence Output 3: Army Capabilities.
DEFENCE MAJOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROJECTS
CARIBOU LIFE EXTENSION
The Caribou aircraft, which provide the ADF's light tactical airlift capability, will undergo a life of type extension to 2010.
HORNET STRUCTURAL REFURBISHMENT
This phase of the project will provide for the structural refurbishment of the F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft to enable the fleet to reach its planned life of 2012-2015.
ECHIDNA - GROUND ENVIRONMENT
This phase of the Echidna electronic warfare self protection project will further enhance the ADF's ability to protect aircraft from missile and ballistic threats.
JOINT THEATRE DISTRIBUTION
This project will enhance the logistics capabilities of the ADF to better prepare for, deploy, and sustain operations.
CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL & RADIOLOGICAL RESPONSE
This project will establish an ongoing ADF capability to respond to threats of attack from chemical warfare agents, biological agents, and radiological materials. It will provide support to civil authorities and also provide a military response capability.
BULK LIQUID DISTRIBUTION - SHIP TO SHORE
This project will provide the ADF with the means to transport bulk quantities of fuel and water.
WATER DESALINISATION
This project will provide the ADF with the capability to produce bulk quantities of potable water from a range of water sources. It will provide a long-term land based water desalination capability sufficient to support all deployable ADF forces.
ENHANCED DEPLOYABLE MEDICAL FACILITIES
This project will provide redeveloped tri-service deployable health care capabilities. A study will commence in 01-02, followed by implementation commencing in 03-04.
DEFENCE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK OPERATIONS CENTRE
This project will deliver an operations centre to allow Defence to manage its many communication networks as an integrated system. In addition, it will improve the level of redundancy and the security of the networks.
LIGHTWEIGHT ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE TORPEDOES
Air and surface platform based anti-submarine warfare is an integral part of Australia's anti-submarine defences. This project seeks to acquire and deploy anti-submarine warfare lightweight torpedoes from various air and surface-ship platforms to replace the existing Mk 46 torpedo stocks.
IMPROVED LOGISTICS INFORMATION SYSTEMS.
This proposal supports a number of initiatives aimed at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the ADF logistics systems.
ADDITIONAL POINT GROUND BASED AIR DEFENCE
This project will provide additional point air defence weapon systems for the ADF, allowing additional units to be protected from air attack.
RBS-70 LIFE OF TYPE EXTENSION
The RBS-70 is a lightweight man portable short-range air defence system. Its primary task is the provision of point defence to Army assets and critical components of the ADF Air Defence System, such as ground based radar. This project will extend the life of the RBS-70 portable point air defence weapon system to 2015.
HEADQUARTERS AUSTRALIAN THEATRE
This project will provide a deployable task force headquarters to support command of ADF forces deployed in the field.
EVOLVED SEASPARROW MISSILES
The Evolved Seasparrow Missile will play a critical role in the anti-ship missile defence of Australia's major surface combatant fleet. This project will integrate the ESSM system into the ANZAC class ships and purchase Evolved Seasparrow missiles for both frigates and ANZAC ships.
ENHANCED COMBAT TRAINING CENTRE
This project will develop an enhanced Combat Training Centre that will provide greater realism in field training and enhance Army's capability to conduct war-fighting and military support operations.
F/A-18 HORNET UPGRADE
This is a study phase to continue concept definition for the F/A-18 Hornet upgrade.
FFG SM-1 TEST STATION
The frigates currently operate the medium range surface to air Standard missiles (SM-1). This proposal seeks to upgrade the current missile test station so that it is able to test both SM-1 and SM-2 missiles.
MARITIME COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT ARCHITECTURE MODERNISATION
This is a study to define the cost and capability options for enhanced command, control, communications, computing, and intelligence systems for RAN Ships to enable better exchange of information between the land and sea environments.
AIR-TO-SURFACE STAND-OFF WEAPON SYSTEM
The Air-to-Surface Standoff Weapon System project will enable the ADF to strike at a range of targets from a significantly greater distance, thus improving the survivability of both the aircraft and crew.
MILITARY SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS GROUND INFRASTRUCTURE
This project will provide the ground infrastructure necessary to utilise the Optus C1 satellite Defence payload to support command and control.
e-DEFENCE
This project will provide secure messaging for sensitive commercial and military data, including the replacement of the current high security messaging system when it reaches the end of its useful life.
2 CRU/3 CRU
This project will replace current air command and control systems at RAAF Bases Tindal and Williamtown. The current capability will be replaced by a more modern system that will allow data to be fused from a number of sensors into an integrated air surveillance picture.
MEDIUM TACTICAL AIRLIFT CAPABILITY
The C-130H Hercules aircraft are the backbone of the ADF's operational troop and equipment air transport capability. Under this phase of the project, minor refurbishment or upgrade will be undertaken to maintain or improve on-line availability of C-130H Hercules.
ECHIDNA ELECTRONIC WARFARE SELF PROTECTION FOR ADF AIRCRAFT
Project Echidna will provide for improved electronic warfare self protection for selected tactical ADF aircraft, to reduce their vulnerability to attack from ground based missiles and small arms.
COMMANDO CAPABILITY
This project will provide a full time high readiness commando capability at the 4th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (4RAR) through the establishment and equipping of two commando companies, an operational support company and a logistic support company along with the provision of appropriate training facilities.
AMPHIBIOUS WATERCRAFT
This project includes the acquisition of watercraft to be used in conjunction with the Amphibious Transports HMA Ships MANOORA and KANIMBLA. This enhanced landing capability will assist the ADF in the execution and sustainment of deployments.
VERY LOW LEVEL AIR DEFENCE WEAPON SIMULATOR
This project will provide a new simulation capability for 16 Air Defence Regiment, which is currently equipped with short range air defence weapons systems. This will allow the collective training and evaluation of ground based air defence weapon crews and enable Army ground based Air Defence detachments to improve operational training, assessment and testing of individual and collective skills.
NINOX LEOPARD TANK THERMAL SIGHTS
This project will equip the Leopard Tank with thermal sights. The new capability will provide a surveillance and gunnery sight for the Leopard tank commander and gunner by day, night and in conditions of reduced visibility, thereby significantly enhancing gunnery performance and combat capabilities.
NINOX - THERMAL SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS
Thermal surveillance systems will complement Army's in-service night fighting equipment, increasing the Land Force's ability to detect and monitor potential targets during the day and night, in all weather conditions.
NINOX - UNATTENDED GROUND SENSORS
This project will acquire Unattended Ground Sensor systems that will remotely detect, locate and recognise a range of targets from personnel to watercraft at key points of interest such as landing points, road junctions, airfields and choke points.
GENERAL SERVICE FIELD VEHICLES
This project will upgrade selected vehicles and assess options for the upgrade and maintenance of the current fleet of ADF field vehicles and trailers.
ARMED RECONNAISSANCE HELICOPTERS
The Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter project will acquire sufficient platforms to equip two operational squadrons of six on-line aircraft, plus aircraft for maintenance, training and attrition. These helicopters will have greatly enhanced reconnaissance and fire support capabilities.
FA-18 HORNET UPGRADE
This phase of the project will upgrade the F/A-18's cockpit to enable significantly improved capability in short-range aerial combat.
ADF JOINT COMMAND SUPPORT SYSTEM
This multi-phase project provides automated command support systems to all the ADF's headquarters.
SOLDIER COMBAT SYSTEM - STUDY
This is a study phase to develop and select designs for an Individual Soldier Combat System incorporating improved communications, day/night weapons sights, and body armour.
ANZAC UNDERWATER AND SURFACE WARFIGHTING UPGRADE (HARPOON)
This phase of the project will acquire the HARPOON anti-ship missile system for the ANZAC class ships.
SURVEY MOTOR LAUNCH UPGRADE
This project will enhance the hydrographic survey suites in the four RAN Survey Motor Launches, and will upgrade Australia's shallow water hydrographic survey capability by increasing the rate of effort and quality of survey.
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