Australian Agreement re: A$ 1B+ AP-3C Orion Support & Upgrade Program
(NSI News Source Info) August 26, 2008: In November 2005, the Australian Government, Tenix Defence and Eurocopter subsidiary Australian Aerospace (AA) have signed the P3 Accord Master Agreement to provide capability upgrades and Through Life Support (TLS) for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) AP-3C Orion maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. The three parties have established a Joint Management Office (JMO) to supervise all Accord activities under a unique risk-sharing contractual arrangement. The JMO will develop and implement all RAAF AP-3C capability upgrades and TLS solutions through to the aircraft’s planned withdrawal date – at which point it will likely be replaced by the 737-based AP-8A MMA.
The combined value of the TLS and block upgrades to the aircraft is expected to be more than A$ 1 billion…
Australia’s AP-3C Programs [updated]
The AP-3 Accord
AP-3 Accord Updates [updated]
Australia’s AP-3C Programs
TLS responsibility. The alliance will develop and implement all needed logistics support solutions through to the AP-3C’s planned withdrawal date. An Industry Plan will be developed to foster the role of small and medium-sized enterprises, providing niche expertise to the fleet. A comprehensive workforce development and sustainment program will be established. In addition to the TLS responsibility, Tenix and AA will manage a number of upgrade programs, including:
JP 2070 Lightweight Torpedo EuroTorp MU90 LWT integration
AIR 5418 Follow on Stand-Off Weapon. Contenders include Lockheed’s JASSM, EADS’ Taurus 350, and Boeing’s Harpoon-derived SLAM-ER. AIR 5418 will also equip the RAAF’s F/A-18s and F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. Australian Aviation had an excellent analysis of the contenders, and the tactical employment of these types of weapons. In the end, Lockheed Martin’s JASSM was picked – but this weapon is not currently integrated with the P-3.
Other upgrades will include:
AIR 5276 Ph 4 Electronic Warfare Self Protection
AIR 5276 Ph 5B Electro-Optics Integration
AIR 5276 Ph 6 Data Links
AIR 5276 Ph 8A & B ESM Update
MIS 886 Acoustic Data Collection and Recording System, and
MIS 554-P3 Crash Data Recorder
Tenix has been involved in the support and upgrade of the P-3 Orion since the mid 1990s, including the RAAF’s much-criticized Project Air 5276” modernization effort as well as other activities. Australian Aerospace has been the deeper maintenance provider for the P3 Fleet since 1993 and was the prime integrator for the Royal New Zealand Air Force Kestrel Program, which successfully extended the life of the RNZAF P-3 Fleet.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Australian Agreement re: A$ 1B+ AP-3C Orion Support & Upgrade Program
Australian Agreement re: A$ 1B+ AP-3C Orion Support & Upgrade Program
(NSI News Source Info) August 26, 2008: In November 2005, the Australian Government, Tenix Defence and Eurocopter subsidiary Australian Aerospace (AA) have signed the P3 Accord Master Agreement to provide capability upgrades and Through Life Support (TLS) for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) AP-3C Orion maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. The three parties have established a Joint Management Office (JMO) to supervise all Accord activities under a unique risk-sharing contractual arrangement. The JMO will develop and implement all RAAF AP-3C capability upgrades and TLS solutions through to the aircraft’s planned withdrawal date – at which point it will likely be replaced by the 737-based AP-8A MMA.
The combined value of the TLS and block upgrades to the aircraft is expected to be more than A$ 1 billion…
Australia’s AP-3C Programs [updated]
The AP-3 Accord
AP-3 Accord Updates [updated]
Australia’s AP-3C Programs
TLS responsibility. The alliance will develop and implement all needed logistics support solutions through to the AP-3C’s planned withdrawal date. An Industry Plan will be developed to foster the role of small and medium-sized enterprises, providing niche expertise to the fleet. A comprehensive workforce development and sustainment program will be established. In addition to the TLS responsibility, Tenix and AA will manage a number of upgrade programs, including:
JP 2070 Lightweight Torpedo EuroTorp MU90 LWT integration
AIR 5418 Follow on Stand-Off Weapon. Contenders include Lockheed’s JASSM, EADS’ Taurus 350, and Boeing’s Harpoon-derived SLAM-ER. AIR 5418 will also equip the RAAF’s F/A-18s and F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. Australian Aviation had an excellent analysis of the contenders, and the tactical employment of these types of weapons. In the end, Lockheed Martin’s JASSM was picked – but this weapon is not currently integrated with the P-3.
Other upgrades will include:
AIR 5276 Ph 4 Electronic Warfare Self Protection
AIR 5276 Ph 5B Electro-Optics Integration
AIR 5276 Ph 6 Data Links
AIR 5276 Ph 8A & B ESM Update
MIS 886 Acoustic Data Collection and Recording System, and
MIS 554-P3 Crash Data Recorder
Tenix has been involved in the support and upgrade of the P-3 Orion since the mid 1990s, including the RAAF’s much-criticized Project Air 5276” modernization effort as well as other activities. Australian Aerospace has been the deeper maintenance provider for the P3 Fleet since 1993 and was the prime integrator for the Royal New Zealand Air Force Kestrel Program, which successfully extended the life of the RNZAF P-3 Fleet.
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