AA new and intricate information system that gives the Australian Defence Force vital and unprecedented command communications mobility has been installed on the amphibious transport ship HMAS Manoora by ADI Limited in record time. It was officially handed over by ADI at a ceremony at Garden Island, Sydney today.
The system, which in effect constitutes a Deployable Joint Task Force Headquarters, provides vastly improved capabilities in areas of command, control and intelligence when directing Australian military forces overseas because it gives Manoora all the facilities of a shore HQ.
It means a Joint Task Force Commander onboard has the invaluable support of being able to maintain secure communications with headquarters in Australia as well as with other task force members and forward units.
Its immense value will be seen when Australian forces are operating in areas of potential conflict and a fully functioning ADF headquarters can operate on Manoora without waiting for the establishment of a safe land base.
"The system, which is multi-functional, will provide two-way information flow enabling a more collaborative approach to planning, operations organisation, logistic arrangements and data exchange. It can, for instance, transmit and receive maps", ADI managing director, Mr Jean-Georges Malcor, said.
It can also provide television, e-mail and telephone services for the crew thus delivering easy and regular contact with family and friends - a morale boosting factor during extended separations.
ADI was awarded the contract because of its comprehensive understanding of communications and command support systems and its ability to design, integrate and install them quickly and efficiently.
"During the four months installation period, 10 kms of cable was laid, 15,000 man-hours of installation effort involving about 5,000 cable terminations was expended, infrastructure for 100 work stations was installed and integrated into the newly established network, Mr Malcor said.
The company combined effectively with 17 small and medium sized enterprises to complete the design and installation in the extremely short time frame of nine months - believed to be a world record for such a complex task governed by strict design and statutory requirements.
Mr Malcor revealed that the program involved the difficult feat of bringing together eight highly sophisticated sub-systems. He added: ""In finishing within such a tight deadline, our staff worked on board the ship at remote locations and at sea while it was on assignment.""
A similar system will be installed on the Royal Australian Navy's second amphibious transport, HMAS Kanimbla, later this year.
