Australian Army took the wraps off some of its Blackhawk helicopters, as they flew through the city and Harbour

Their work is usually secret or dangerous but the Army took the wraps off some of its Blackhawk helicopters, as they flew through the city and Harbour. @JayneAzzo #9News pic.twitter.com/pRj7vHsJjM

— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) February 16, 2018

Australian fighter pilots have been reunited with loved ones after carrying out air strikes against Islamic State in the Middle East

Australian fighter pilots have been reunited with loved ones after carrying out air strikes against Islamic State in the Middle East. https://t.co/3s0lBajiVO @DeptDefence @Aus_AirForce #auspol #7News pic.twitter.com/FkvxiVCQJX

— 7 News Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) January 24, 2018

Boeing Delivers Initial Next-Generation Battlespace Communications System to ADF

Ahead of schedule, Boeing [NYSE: BA] delivered the initial equipment of an Australian-designed and manufactured battlespace communications solution for the Australian Defence Force (ADF), a major milestone for a system that will transform how the Australian military communicates in the field.

Under the AUD$650 million contract for the ADF’s Project Currawong, Boeing Defence Australia (BDA), a subsidiary of The Boeing Company, achieved Initial Material Release for the transit case version of its networked communications solution. The system transfers secure wideband voice, data and video services over wireless and wired infrastructure between Australia’s land-based deployed forces and headquarters.

BDA Vice President and Managing Director Darren Edwards said the initial delivery ahead of schedule to the Commonwealth of Australia proved Boeing’s ability and agility in supporting the Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

“Boeing’s success in creating the hardware and software that meets Australia’s battlespace communications needs within a complex fixed price development program is testament to our partnership with our customer as well as our growing Australian supply chain supporting this important capability,” said Edwards.

“Together, we’ve designed, built, tested and manufactured an Australian-made, highly scalable and agile networking solution to ensure Australia gets exactly what it needs: a communications solution matched to operate in an ever-evolving threat environment.”

Boeing has provided defence personnel from 7th Combat Signal Regiment and 1 Signal Regiment based at Enoggera Barracks and 1 Combat Communications Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley with training and equipment deliveries to use the system ahead of Exercise Hamel in 2018.

This first tranche of the equipment delivered includes 18 deployable communication nodes and an Australian fixed strategic communications anchor site. This incorporates Boeing’s core communication system components, the network access module (NAM) and mission system management (MSM), which connect and manage the communication bearers and services Boeing and its partners are bringing to the program.

Boeing will also design a vehicle mounted version of the solution in parallel with the ongoing rollout of the transit case version to additional Army and Air Force units.

Australian C-130J flare dispense over RAAF Base Richmond

.@Aus_AirForce C-130J flare dispense over RAAF Base Richmond.

9 June 2016.#YourADF pic.twitter.com/TzC0QpIJhc

— DefenceAustralia (@DeptDefence) September 6, 2017

Royal Australian Air Force's New KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport Refuels USAF C-17

Amphibious assault at Talisman Saber 2017

Australia DOD - HIFiRE 4 Hypersonic Scramjet Missile Test Launch

Australia Requests Sale of Anti Radiation Missiles for EA-18G Growler

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia for Anti-Radiation Missiles. The estimated cost is $137.6 million.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on April 27, 2017.

Australia has requested a possible sale of up to seventy (70) AGM-88B High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM) Tactical Missiles; up to forty (40) AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM) Tactical Missiles; up to sixteen (16) CATM-88B HARM Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM); up to sixteen (16) CATM-88E AARGM CATM; up to twenty-five (25) AGM-88B Control Sections; up to twenty-five (25) AGM-88B Guidance Sections; up to twenty (20) AGM-88E Control Sections; up to twenty (20) AGM-88E Guidance Sections; up to forty eight (48) Telemetry/Flight Termination Systems; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other associated support equipment and services. The total estimated cost is $137.6 million.

This sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a major contributor to political stability, security, and economic development in the Western Pacific. Australia is an important Major non-NATO Ally and partner that contributes significantly to peacekeeping and humanitarian operations around the world. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist our ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability.

Australia is requesting these missiles for its Electronic Attack EA-18G Growler aircraft. The proposed sale will improve Australia’s capability in current and future coalition efforts. Australia will use this capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense. Australia will have no difficultly absorbing these additional missiles into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support does not alter the basic military balance in the region. The prime contractors will be Orbital ATK (OA), Ridgecrest, CA, and Raytheon Missile Systems Company, Tucson, AZ. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to travel to Australia.

Avalon Air Show Plan Jericho 360 tour

Rheinmetall Boxer CRV and BAESystems Australia - Patria AMV-35 at the Puckapunyal AFV Field Firing Training Area

#Rheinmetall Boxer CRV and #BAESystems Australia - #Patria AMV-35 at the Puckapunyal AFV Field Firing Training Area#Land400 #Australia pic.twitter.com/U7A6rKD85s

— Tom Antonov (@Tom_Antonov) February 26, 2017

Boeing to Provide Malaysia, Thailand, Australia and Other Countries with Harpoon Missile Spares

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is being awarded a $12,399,305 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of spares in support of Harpoon and Stand-Off Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) for the Navy (83); and the governments of Saudi Arabia (143), Australia (5,734), Canada (50), Japan (96), Malaysia (17), Turkey (11), India (24), Taiwan (3), and Thailand (1).

Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas (29.56 percent); St. Charles, Missouri (21.51 percent); Black Mountain, North Carolina (15.04 percent); Joplin, Missouri (14.72 percent); Beverly, Massachusetts (4.24 percent); Burnely, United Kingdom (3.30 percent); Galena, Kansas (3.26 percent); Hayward, California (2.83 percent); Lititz, Pennsylvania (1.40 percent); Landsdale, Pennsylvania (1.01 percent); St. Louis, Missouri (0.94 percent); Middletown, Connecticut (0.70 percent); Chandler, Arizona (0.41 percent); Toledo, Ohio (0.29 percent); Skokie, Illinois (0.25 percent); Staten Island, New York (0.16 percent); Roswell, Georgia (0.10 percent); Huntington Beach, California (0.09 percent); Chatsworth, California (0.08 percent); St. Petersburg, Florida (0.07 percent); Irvine, California (0.03 percent); and Carson, New York (0.01 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2018.

Fiscal 2016 weapons procurement (Navy); and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $12,399,305 are being obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1) XX.  This contract combines purchases for the Navy ($1,977,154; 15.95 percent); and the governments of Saudi Arabia ($4,913,562; 39.63 percent); Australia ($2,189,643; 17.66 percent); Canada ($1,371,188; 11.06 percent); Japan ($1,101,488; 8.88 percent); Malaysia ($309,852; 2.50 percent); Turkey ($293,895; 2.37 percent); India ($116,138; 0.94 percent); Taiwan ($105,991; 0.85 percent); and Thailand ($20,394; 0.16 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-17-C-0012).

Australian Army this week - live fire training with our Tiger helicopters

Training in the @AustralianArmy this week - live fire #training with our Tiger helicopters in the Top End pic.twitter.com/03DnXLeCSF

— Brigadier Mick Ryan (@LearningArmy) February 16, 2017

Australia: Muslim ex-deputy mayor to wife "I’m gonna rape your mum and your f***ing dad! I swear on the Koran!"

Abusing his wife Ayesha

🆘‼️🐸 Australia: Muslim ex-deputy mayor to wife "I’m gonna rape your mum and your f***ing dad! I swear on the Koran!" pic.twitter.com/vpajpYu22I

— Onlinemagazin (@OnlineMagazin) August 29, 2016

Australian Army Gets Three New CH-47F Chinooks Ahead of Schedule

In a major boost to Army’s medium lift helicopter capability, CASG has delivered three additional CH-47Fs Chinooks two and half months ahead of schedule.

The addition of three CH-47Fs to the existing fleet of seven significantly expands Army's battlefield capability in the areas of air mobile, air assault, aero medical evacuation and amphibious operations, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The three new Chinooks are straight off the Boeing production line and are fitted with the latest US Army technologies, including updated avionics and next generation self-protection systems.

Executive Officer Cargo Helicopter Management Unit Major Michael Hansen, said the success of the project represents a significant amount of negotiation, contract work and governmental liaison.

“Achieving delivery of three new aircraft inside four months demonstrates highly effective and coordinated project acquisition between the US Army, Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group, the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group and Army Aviation,” he said.

“By employing the foreign military sales strategy the ADF also leverages the benefits of being part of a much larger fleet, which is growing to almost 500 CH-47Fs flying with the US Army.

“Not only does the ADF see the benefits of scale in the initial purchase price but the ongoing cost of consumable and repairable items is greatly reduced.”

Another Australian success story : Hawkei

Demands for Sharia law for Australia

🆘‼🇦🇺🐸 These two nobles declare #Sharia law for #Australia ... not more but also not less. https://t.co/PsaWhgukT5 pic.twitter.com/JpxUt9o7xt

— Onlinemagazin (@OnlineMagazin) June 8, 2016

Australian Army M777A2 lightweight towed howitzer at Townsville training area

Milestone for Australian Air Warfare destroyer

AWD Alliance celebrates the opening of the RAN’s Navy Training Systems Centre whilst the first destroyer, Hobart, progresses towards sea trials for the combat system

This week marks further progress for the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) project, as the Royal Australian Navy officially opened its Navy Training Systems Centre at Randwick Barracks in New South Wales on 8 April.

The purpose-built facility will provide the location for the RAN to deliver training for both the AWD and Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) capabilities, demonstrating one of the many facility requirements that the AWD Alliance has delivered as part of the project to date.

This milestone comes as the first Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Hobart advances further towards sea trials with the activation of a number of significant combat systems.

The AWD Alliance team, comprised of Raytheon Australia, ASC and the Department of Defence, has invested over the last decade in developing the people, processes, tools and supplier relationships required to integrate and activate such highly technical and complex systems.

In its role as the Combat Systems Integrator, Raytheon Australia is responsible for the design, integration, testing and activation of the Hobart Class Combat System for all three destroyers, as well as delivery of the associated land-based support facilities. This involves the integration of 10 major subsystems, including the Aegis Weapon System, which is provided through Foreign Military Sales, and associated delivery of more than 3,500 major pieces of combat system equipment required to establish the warfighting capability of the AWD for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

AWD Program Manager Commodore Craig Bourke, CSC, RAN, said that the collegiate approach for developing the Hobart Class Combat System Solution, led by Raytheon Australia has achieved the expected ‘best-for-program outcomes’ working with the US Navy and a range of Original Equipment Manufacturers, such as Ultra and Lockheed Martin.

“The Combat System architectural principles applied by Raytheon Australia have given the Commonwealth an overall system of systems solution with effective balance between a system with a strong parent Navy pedigree and the Australian indigenous capability to select, manage and tailor sub-systems, weapons and effectors to best meet the capability needs of the Royal Australian Navy along with inherent through life support benefits,” Commodore Bourke said.

AWD Alliance General Manager Lloyd Beckett also reinforced the importance of this activity as a demonstration of the complex work being undertaken by the Alliance. “The activation of the combat system is an exciting time for a first-of-class ship such as Hobart. It is a further demonstration of the demanding work that we are executing on this project, and proof of our ability to manage the risks associated with highly complex integration activities. I am immensely proud of what the AWD Alliance is achieving together as one team,” said Lloyd.

The three destroyers will represent one of the world’s most advanced multi-purpose warships, providing the RAN with a cross-spectrum capability, from joint maritime operations and area air defence to escort duties and diplomatic missions.

Project Update

-Hobart is 92% complete and on track to commence sea trials later this year, with a number of key combat systems activated including the Vertical Launch System, the Australian Tactical Interface, the Aegis Software Operating Environment and the  SPY1D-V phased array radar, along with various navigation and platform systems. In the coming weeks, Hobart will complete the activation of its main engines, in preparation for sea trials later this year.

-Brisbane is 75% complete as it prepares for launch in the coming year.
-Sydney is 49% complete, with the final block delivery to occur in May 2016.
-Both Brisbane and Sydney have benefitted from the lessons being applied from Hobart, with significant efficiency gains being measured from the first ship to the third ship. ASC and Navantia have worked closely together with the broader Alliance team over the last few months to realise these gains.
-Overall, more than 85% of the project’s combat system scope of work has been completed.
-The AWD Alliance successfully completed its final Training Readiness Review with the RAN, signifying agreement from the Navy that the program is ready to commence crew training for the AWD capability.

Australia - Exercise Jericho Dawn

HMAS Parramatta Anti Ship Missile Defence Upgrade more than Skin Deep

http://news.navy.gov.au/en/Mar2016/Fleet/2755#.VuOtEfl97IV

HMA Ships Parramatta (left) and Toowoomba (right) at the BAE Systems shipyard at Henderson, WA. HMAS Parramatta is receiving a coat of Haze Grey following installation of new mast structures, while HMAS Toowoomba has been blasted back to bare metal and preserved with primer awaiting structural and combat system modifications to be installed. (photo : RAN)

HMAS Parramatta, the fifth Anzac class frigate built for Australia and the sixth to enter the Anti-Ship Missile Defence Upgrade programme has commenced preparations to undock in mid April.

While the most obvious and striking changes are the addition of a ‘cupola' mast to house the CEA Phased Array Radar, and a coat of the new Royal Australian Navy 'haze grey' paint, these are just two of a complex web of engineering changes and maintenance tasks delivered by BAE Systems, Saab Australia and Naval Ship Management, at the BAE Systems shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia over the past 12 months.

While significant elements of the combat system were replaced or upgraded, and large sections of the propulsion and electrical generation system were removed for overhaul prior to replacement, a significant body of work was also undertaken with assistance from uniform staff to maintain and overhaul equipment that remained.

Anzac Systems Program Office Commonwealth representative Mr Justin Bentink has been involved with the upgrade since it started and said that he has been impressed with the results that the diverse team of uniform and contract staff have produced.

“As a civilian I am honoured to work with such an inspiring group of naval professionals, supporting the Navy to achieve its capability aims," Mr Bentink said.

“Witnessing the dedication of naval personnel on a daily basis has personally altered my life's perspective on discipline, dedication and self-sacrifice.

“To me HMAS Parramatta is truly the embodiment of what can be achieved if Navy and industry come together altruistically for the good of the nation."

Following a period operating from Fleet Base East, Parramatta arrived at Fleet Base West in February 2015 and undertook a comprehensive safety and preparation phase before docking in late April. During this time, the vessel was completely emptied of all stores and supplies, de-fuelled, and cleaned in an extensive operation undertaken by the crew and contractors. Removal of some major radar and other antennae and upper deck fixtures also commenced, allowing more efficient use of time on the dock to achieve the major upgrade work.

Once docked, material control of the vessel was handed to Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, Anzac System Program Office, and the crew moved to sister ship HMAS Warramunga for return to Navy service following completion of the upgrade.

'Rip out' began in the operations room to make way for the upgraded Combat System, the Guided Missile Vertical Launch system was removed to allow access for engine removal (which then allows them to be overhauled offsite and replaced in the vessel prior to undocking), and disconnection of systems and removal of upper deck mast structures began, with the ‘classic’ Anzac class masts being lifted off in May 2015. The new masts, built on the base of the original masts with new upper structures, cables, services, and paint scheme, were lifted into place on in November; the highest mast being a full seven decks above the main upper deck.

By October 2015, the entire outer hull had been blasted back and coated in a red preservation undercoat, making Parramatta nearly unrecognisable from her former glory of only months before. Application of the more traditional grey top coat commenced in September, and the ship will be fully painted and ready to be returned to the water by mid April 2016.
 
In total, Parramatta will have received the services of over 600,000 hours of individual labour from an array of Australian industry and uniform personnel, resulting in a significant capability increase in addition to the impressive new visual profile.