Australia tweaks ASC sub maintenance deal

Australia has signed a new deal with Australian Submarine Corp. for maintenance and support of the Collins Class submarines.
"The new contract has been put in place to deliver more efficient and effective sustainment services that will improve the availability and reliability of the Collins Submarine fleet," a statement from the Defense Materiel Organization said.
Prime contractor ASC, which built the six subs between 1990 and 2003, provides maintenance for the submarines but on a "forward-funded cost-plus" basis, the statement said.

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Launch of Second Amphibious Ship HMAS Adelaide, Canberra Class LHD for Royal Australian Navy

Navantia launched at its Ferrol facilities, the second amphibious ship for the Royal Australian Navy. The Ship’s launching lady, Mrs. Maureen Banks, as well as the Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, together with representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, BAE Systems, SEPI and Navantia have attended the event. Construction of the “Adelaide” started with the Steel Cutting ceremony on the 2nd of February 2010, followed by the keel laying on the 18th of February 2011.

Launch of HMAS Adelaide, Canberra Class LHD (Picture: Royal Australian Navy)

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Australia Gifts 4 C-130 Aicraft To Indonesia

In an effort to help Indonesia respond better to natural disasters and humanitarian crises, Australia has gifted four C-130 heavylift transport aircraft to the Indonesian Government.

The two countries today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the transfer of four Australian Defence Force C-130 Hercules aircraft to Indonesia, following the Prime Minister’s offer in November of last year to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to transfer up to four aircraft to the country.

Indonesia will fund all refurbishment and ongoing maintenance costs associated with the aircraft.

Australia's gift comes as an effort to build bilateral Australia-Indonesia ties and close relations between the Australian and Indonesian Defence forces.

Minister Purnomo and Minister Smith also held bilateral talks at Headquarters Northern Command, located at Larrakeyah Army Base in Darwin.

The discussions focused on bilateral defence engagement and the critical role Indonesia and Australia play together in contributing to regional security and addressing global challenges.

Australia and Indonesia are also working to bolster coordination on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief through the East Asia Summit framework.

Source :http://www.defenseworld.net/

Australia’s Tiger attack helicopters grounded again for cockpit fumes

Australia has grounded its Eurocopter Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters for the second time in two months after fumes were again detected in the aircraft's cockpit.
On 25 June, the two-man crew of a Tiger flying in Australia's Shoalwater Bay training area landed safely after fumes were detected in the cockpit, says the Australian army.
This is the second time in two months that cockpit fumes have grounded Australia's Tigers. On 16 May, the fleet was suspended for two weeks after a Tiger crew detected fumes in the cockpit.
It is not clear if the aircraft involved in the 25 June incident is the same one involved in the earlier incident.

©Commonwealth of Australia

Australia's Department of Defence said the earlier grounding was lifted on 30 May after the Army Operational Airworthiness Authority issued "a detailed assessment and a recommendation from the Technical Airworthiness Authority to resume flying operations".
Australia has 22 Tigers. The type has yet to become fully operational in Australia, but final testing has been planned for late 2012.

Source :http://www.flightglobal.com

Australia’s Tiger attack helicopters grounded again for cockpit fumes

Australia has grounded its Eurocopter Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters for the second time in two months after fumes were again detected in the aircraft's cockpit.
On 25 June, the two-man crew of a Tiger flying in Australia's Shoalwater Bay training area landed safely after fumes were detected in the cockpit, says the Australian army.
This is the second time in two months that cockpit fumes have grounded Australia's Tigers. On 16 May, the fleet was suspended for two weeks after a Tiger crew detected fumes in the cockpit.
It is not clear if the aircraft involved in the 25 June incident is the same one involved in the earlier incident.

©Commonwealth of Australia

Australia's Department of Defence said the earlier grounding was lifted on 30 May after the Army Operational Airworthiness Authority issued "a detailed assessment and a recommendation from the Technical Airworthiness Authority to resume flying operations".
Australia has 22 Tigers. The type has yet to become fully operational in Australia, but final testing has been planned for late 2012.

Source :http://www.flightglobal.com

Alenia Aermacchi looks to build on Australian C-27J success

Australia's recent order for 10 C-27J Spartan tactical transports will keep Alenia Aermacchi's production line active until the middle of this decade, but the company is actively pursuing further orders, says chief executive Giuseppe Giordo.

Alenia Aermacchi has so far received two contracts following Canberra's 12 May selection decision, with another to be signed soon to bring its overall business value to more than $500 million.

"We have received contracts from the Australian Department of Defence to provide the capability to operate, maintain, modify and upgrade in-country the C-27J aircraft and its support systems for the long term," Giordo says.

"A third contract, covering training, maintenance and initial logistic support for the first three years, is to be signed soon between Alenia, L-3 Communications and the US government," he adds. The Italian company expects to secure additional business to perform such work through-life.

L-3 is prime contractor for Australia's Air 8000 Phase 2 battlefield airlifter programme, and will install US-specific equipment with the new-build C-27Js at its Waco facilities in Texas.

The Australian government has indicated an overall A$1.4 billion ($1.39 billion) programme cost for its C-27J acquisition. Alenia Aermacchi is now ordering long-lead production items, with deliveries expected to run between early 2015 and September 2016. Acquired to replace the Royal Australian Air Force's retired de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribous, the type should achieve initial operational capability late in 2016.

Giordo says the Australian deal will help to sustain the C-27J production line until 2015, but that additional deals under discussion could extend this until 2018 or 2019.

"With the support of the Italian government, we believe we might receive additional orders from other customers," Giordo says, adding that Alenia has spare production capacity. Any such deals will be negotiated as direct commercial sales rather than using the US Foreign Military Sales mechanism, he says.

Alenia Aermacchi has so far delivered 49 C-27Js from confirmed orders for 89 aircraft. The remainder are on order for Australia, Mexico, Romania and the USA.

Meanwhile, the Finmeccanica company continues to work on proposed command-and-control and armed versions of the type for special operations

Source : http://www.flightglobal.com

Alenia Aermacchi looks to build on Australian C-27J success

Australia's recent order for 10 C-27J Spartan tactical transports will keep Alenia Aermacchi's production line active until the middle of this decade, but the company is actively pursuing further orders, says chief executive Giuseppe Giordo.

Alenia Aermacchi has so far received two contracts following Canberra's 12 May selection decision, with another to be signed soon to bring its overall business value to more than $500 million.

"We have received contracts from the Australian Department of Defence to provide the capability to operate, maintain, modify and upgrade in-country the C-27J aircraft and its support systems for the long term," Giordo says.

"A third contract, covering training, maintenance and initial logistic support for the first three years, is to be signed soon between Alenia, L-3 Communications and the US government," he adds. The Italian company expects to secure additional business to perform such work through-life.

L-3 is prime contractor for Australia's Air 8000 Phase 2 battlefield airlifter programme, and will install US-specific equipment with the new-build C-27Js at its Waco facilities in Texas.

The Australian government has indicated an overall A$1.4 billion ($1.39 billion) programme cost for its C-27J acquisition. Alenia Aermacchi is now ordering long-lead production items, with deliveries expected to run between early 2015 and September 2016. Acquired to replace the Royal Australian Air Force's retired de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribous, the type should achieve initial operational capability late in 2016.

Giordo says the Australian deal will help to sustain the C-27J production line until 2015, but that additional deals under discussion could extend this until 2018 or 2019.

"With the support of the Italian government, we believe we might receive additional orders from other customers," Giordo says, adding that Alenia has spare production capacity. Any such deals will be negotiated as direct commercial sales rather than using the US Foreign Military Sales mechanism, he says.

Alenia Aermacchi has so far delivered 49 C-27Js from confirmed orders for 89 aircraft. The remainder are on order for Australia, Mexico, Romania and the USA.

Meanwhile, the Finmeccanica company continues to work on proposed command-and-control and armed versions of the type for special operations

Source : http://www.flightglobal.com