Lightweight torpedoes are self-propelled, underwater projectiles that can be launched from ships and aircraft and are designed to detonate on contact or in close proximity to a target. The Australian Defence Force’s (ADF’s) primary anti-submarine capability is provided by its maritime patrol aircraft, embarked helicopters and surface platforms. The lightweight torpedo is the main anti-submarine weapon deployed on these platforms.
A Defence study concluded in mid-1990, that the lightweight torpedo ‘was the most cost and operationally effective anti-submarine warfare weapon in all situations’. In July 1997, the Defence Capability Forum concluded that there was a need to acquire a new torpedo because the ADF’s existing Mark 46 lightweight torpedo had significant limitations and was not adequate for the ADF’s needs.
Subsequently, in March 1998, Phase 1 of Joint Project 2070 Lightweight Anti-submarine Warfare Torpedo (JP 2070) was approved by Government to select and procure through subsequent phases, a replacement lightweight torpedo, procure associated support systems, and integrate the torpedo onto the following ADF platforms:
--Adelaide Class Guided Missile Frigates (FFGs);
--ANZAC Class Frigates (ANZAC ships);
--AP-3C Orion Maritime Patrol aircraft (Orion);
--S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters (Seahawk); and
--SH-2G(A) Super Seasprite helicopters (Super Seasprite).
The Super Seasprite was removed from JP 2070’s scope in March 2008 when the Government took the decision to cancel that project. Subsequently, in February 2009 the Orion and the Seahawk were also removed from the scope of the approved phases of JP 2070. Accordingly, the currently approved phase involves integration of the replacement lightweight torpedo with only the two surface platforms, the FFG and ANZAC ships.
The procurement approach adopted for JP 2070 was one of the Defence Materiel Organisation’s (DMO’s) first attempts at conducting a major capital equipment acquisition using an alliance contracting model. As a consequence of it being a prototype alliance10, JP 2070 carried additional project and contract management overheads in the establishment and initial management phases.
The total budget for all three approved phases of JP 2070 is $665.48 million. As at February 2010, the DMO had spent $397.51 million of the combined approved budget for JP 2070.
Some 12 years after JP 2070 commenced, and nine years after Government approved Phase 2, which was to buy an initial batch of torpedoes and integrate the torpedo onto five ADF platforms, the Project is yet to deliver an operational capability. (end of excerpt)
Click here for the full audit report (199 pages in PDF format) on the ANAO website. (ends)
