A major critical design review for the Electronic Warfare Self Protection and Electronic Support Measures Subsystems of the Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft has been successfully completed, Minister for Defence, Senator Robert Hill, said today.
The work has been done by BAE Systems Australia, as a subcontractor to The Boeing Company.
Senator Hill said the successful completion of these reviews, in April and May 2003, would enable The Boeing Company to complete the AEW&C aircraft design phase on schedule in July 2003.
"The success of these reviews, conducted by The Boeing Company, demonstrates the world class nature of Australian Industry's project management and electronic system design skills.
"BAE Systems Australia can also proceed with production of the Electronic Warfare Systems' hardware and software," Senator Hill said.
The Electronic Warfare Self Protection Subsystem provides the AEW&C aircraft with a state of the art threat detection and countermeasures capability to defeat enemy missiles.
The Electronic Support Measures Subsystem is a critical AEW&C sensor that assists in the detection of enemy fighter aircraft and the control of friendly aircraft by on-board Fighter Controllers. This subsystem is the next generation of the ALR-2001 system, developed by BAE Systems Australia for the RAAF AP-3C Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
-ends- BAE Systems Australia Completes Critical Design Reviews On Project Wedgetail
