The Department of Defence is pleased to announce the signing of a contract between the Headquarters Australian Theatre Project and Australian Defence Industries Ltd (ADI) to develop engineering and implementation plans for a deployable headquarters aboard HMAS Manoora.
The deployable headquarters project involves installing state-of-the-art communications systems to link up land with sea and land with land across the services to provide a more seamless approach to operational command.
With this new system, Commander Australian Theatre (COMAST) will be able to organise operations and logistics arrangements, and take part in collaborative planning with the forces at sea before their deployment away from the Australian mainland. The system, which has been tailored to suit Australian conditions and needs, provides:
**satellite communications; **an integrated intelligence database and a secure network; **a command support system to assist with information flows; **continuous inflow of topographic information; and **database replication.
According to Project Manager, CMDR Derek Abraham-James, the new system will mean a more proactive, collaborative approach to planning and information exchange. "We have learnt from our experience in commanding operations in East Timor and Bougainville. This command platform will greatly improve the way Australia runs its military operations overseas," he said.
"The installation of this system will mean that the HMAS Manoora will enjoy the same level of capability as shore headquarters. This represents a significant improvement in the ships command and control capability.
"HMAS Sydney now has a similar system in operation and it has been well received by the Commanding Officer and crew. The ship has a multifunctional system that can be used for basic, everyday communications as well as higher level, operational command by Maritime Headquarters," he said.
The system will be introduced to HMAS Manoora in January-February 2001 and HMAS Kanimbla in mid 2001. Replacing the deployable Land-based Joint Task Force Headquarters capability is also part of this project, and this will also be undertaken during the next two years.
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East Timor Lessons : Deployable HeadquartersMakes For Seamless Operational Command
