In November last year, the Government approved the purchase of the two ex-United States Army Chinooks following the loss of one ADF Chinook on operations in Afghanistan in May 2011.

The Minister said the new Chinooks would enter a period of deep maintenance and modification to bring them up to the same configuration as the existing ADF Chinook fleet.

Both Chinooks are scheduled to be delivered to the Australian Army to support operations by the middle of 2012.

The CH-47D Chinook is a highly capable medium-lift utility helicopter. Its roles include troop movement, battlefield equipment transport, search and rescue and disaster relief.

Chinooks have been highly capable workhorses since they entered ADF service in 1995 in operations both in Australia and overseas.

Chinooks have been deployed on Operation Slipper in Afghanistan since 2006.

They have performed an outstanding service for both ADF and International Security Assistance Forces and are in high demand across Afghanistan due to their superior performance in hot and high altitude conditions.

The ADF CH-47D fleet will be replaced with seven new CH-47F Chinooks from around 2016.

The Commander of Forces Command, Major General Michael Slater, as the Army Operational Airworthiness Authority has lifted the precautionary suspension following airworthiness advice from the Technical Airworthiness Authority.

The suspension demonstrates Army’s commitment to safety. The temporary safety precaution was effected while a thorough engineering investigation was carried out following the discovery of the defective bolts.

The engineering investigation indicated that the defective bolts were confined to a single manufacturer’s batch and were not a fleet wide issue. The defective batch of bolts has been quarantined from use.

The Australian Army operates 34 Black Hawk aircraft. Of that fleet, three are deployed to Timor Leste, and the remaining aircraft are based in Holsworthy NSW and Townsville QLD.

The Navy Seahawk helicopters differ significantly to the Army Black Hawk and were not affected by the suspension.

Acting Director General Aviation, Colonel Stephen Evans said the suspension, which commenced on 19 January, was to ensure safety and is consistent with Army Operational Airworthiness procedures.

“The precautionary suspension will remain in place to allow an investigation into the cause of the fracture to be completed,” Colonel Evans said.

Three Army Black Hawks are assigned to Joint Task Force 631 in Timor Leste. Emergency aero-medical evacuations for International Stabilization Force personnel in Timor Leste remain authorized during the temporary suspension.

The Navy Seahawk helicopters differ significantly to the Black Hawk in the affected area, and Seahawk flying operations have not been suspended.

Senator Feeney said that Plan Beersheba, a restructure of the Australian Army, will achieve a greater integration of full and part time forces and strengthen the operational capability of our part time forces.

“In an increasingly complex strategic environment, we must make sure our forces are positioned for the full range of possible contingencies.

“Plan Beersheba positions Army to deliver capability in an effective, timely and affordable way to meet these contingencies,” Senator Feeney said.

“This Government will ensure that all Reserve Armoured Corps will receive Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles to provide protected transport for our troops.

“This will be the first time in more than five years that all Army Reserve Armoured units will have armoured vehicles.

“In addition, under Beersheba we intend to create a new armoured squadron with protected vehicles in Queensland. This is a major boost to the capability of the Reserve.

“In Melbourne, the armoured unit of 4th Brigade – 4th/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse who famously fought at Beersheba – will get Bushmasters,” said Senator Feeney.

Commander 2nd Division, Major General Craig Williams said that the Army’s Reserve Force (2nd Division) will be realigned with the Regular Army, with two Reserve Brigades linked to each Multi-role Manoeuvre Brigade.

“There will be a significant increase in the operational focus of the Reserve which will be effected through the development of habitual relationships between reserve brigades and the regular Multi-role Manoeuvre Brigades,” Major General Williams said.

“The 2nd Division will be aligned with the 36 month Force Generation Cycle and assigned preparedness levels.”

Defence Reserves Association (DRA) President, Major General Jim Barry (Retd) said: “This is the most important structural change for the Army Reserve in decades.

“The six Army Reserve Brigades of 2 Division are now assigned specific roles and tasks and are structurally aligned with their regular counterparts. There is now a defined operational focus which the DRA has been advocating for some time,” Major General Jim Barry (Retd) said.

Plan Beersheba is the Australian Army’s plan for the next phase of the Adaptive Army Campaign. It follows the changes in Army’s command and control structure made during 2008.

Under the plan, the 1st, 3rd and 7th Brigades will form three new Multi-role Manoeuvre Brigades. These Brigades will be fundamentally alike in structure to enable sustained operations within a new 36-month Force Generation Cycle.

Force Generation is the process through which Army readies itself to respond to contingencies that may arise. Each Brigade will have the following components – infantry, armour, artillery, engineers, logistics and communications.

Australia’s Reserve Force will be more focused on stability operations and will be involved in major exercises with their partnered Multi-role Manoeuvre Brigades.

The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon and Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, were on hand to welcome the final flight and thank the 817 Squadron who operated the helicopters.

“Australia’s Sea Kings are being retired after a remarkable 35 years serving in times of conflict, peacekeeping, natural disaster, search and rescue and national celebration,” Mr Snowdon said.

“In particular I’d like to thank the men and women of the 817 Squadron past and present, who have served with distinction over the past 48 years.”

“They have lived up to their motto ‘Aude Facere’ – ‘Dare To Do’, and have always served Australia with professionalism and skill.”

“They were there for the 1994 bushfires, the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, the 2001 North NSW floods and just this year in the South East Queensland flood relief.”

“I also pay tribute to those who have lost their lives while serving in 817 Squadron, their service and sacrifice must never be forgotten,” he said.

The Australian Government announced in June, that Sea King shark 07 would be included in the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Nowra, to preserve the Sea Kings’ heritage for future generations.

Commander Paul Moggach, the 817 Squadron’s Commanding Officer, led a formation leaving from the Naval Air Station at HMAS Albatross yesterday.

The formation made a flying visit up the NSW coast, arriving over Sydney for a flight up Sydney Harbour, followed by a flyover the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

Navy Vice Admiral Ray Griggs described today’s ceremony as a fitting end to a remarkable career for both the personnel of 817 Squadron and the Sea King Helicopters.

“The Sea Kings are commonly known as the Mack trucks of the skies. All who have maintained and operated them feel honoured to have done so,” Vice Admiral Griggs said.

“After 35 years, it is time to look to the future with a new generation of aircraft.

“The personnel of 817 Squadron are first rate members of the Navy.

“They’ll now apply their experience, commitment and expertise in other roles throughout the Navy and ADF Aviation, and I wish them well in their new roles,” said Vice Admiral Griggs.

The purchase of the additional CH-47D Chinooks, effected through Defence signing of a Letter of Offer and Acceptance with the United States will bring Australia’s total CH-47D Chinook fleet to seven.

The additional aircraft will reduce pressure on the training and maintenance schedule for the ADF Chinook fleet resulting in enhanced support to the two Chinook’s currently deployed to the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO).

The two additional aircraft have been sourced from the United States, and will be transported to Australia for servicing and modification to the current Australian CH-47D configuration. The aircraft are expected to arrive in Townsville by the end of January next year and are anticipated to be ready for domestic operations from mid-2012.

The CH-47D Chinook undertakes the medium-lift utility role with great versatility, including troop movement, battlefield equipment transport, search and rescue and disaster relief roles. The CH-47D Chinook aircraft has been an extremely capable workhorse since they entered ADF service in 1995.

This procurement will ensure the continued utility of Chinook aircraft on overseas operations, domestically through Defence Assistance to the Civil Community and in training and sustainment of aircrews.

The CH-47D Chinook have been deployed on Operation Slipper in Afghanistan since 2006. They have performed an outstanding service for both ADF and ISAF forces and are in high demand across Afghanistan due to its superior performance in hot and high altitude conditions.

The CH-47D fleet will be replaced with seven new CH-47F Chinook helicopters from around 2016.

The total project cost is in excess of $650 million, including the funds already spent upgrading HMAS Perth.

The ANZAC Class Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) project has also been removed from the Projects of Concern list.

The 2009 Defence White Paper outlined the Government’s intent to put all of the ANZAC Class ships through an ASMD upgrade program, subject to the successful outcome of at-sea trials on the first ship.

The upgrade of HMAS Perth as the lead ship for the ASMD program was successfully completed earlier this year.

Following exhaustive testing, including in theUnited States, the Chief of Navy agreed to the operational release of the system in July 2011.

Government has now approved the installation of the system on the remaining seven ships of the ANZAC class by 2017.

Minister Smith said this was the latest weapon in Navy’s arsenal and meant the Navy’s ANZAC frigates would be a lot more capable.

At the moment our ANZAC frigates can track and destroy one target at a time.

The new system is able to identify, track and guide missiles to multiple targets at the same time.

Minister Clare said the project was a great Australian success story – cutting edge technology developed right here in Australia by CEA Technologies.

The remaining upgrade installation and integration work will be undertaken by the ANZAC Ship Integrated Materiel Support Program Alliance, comprising SAAB Systems, BAE Systems and the Defence Materiel Organisation.

Minister Clare said that the ASMD upgrade program is a good demonstration of how the Projects of Concern process can effectively manage difficult projects and deliver successful national security outcomes for Australia.

The 437 new guns are the improved M3 model and will supplement the existing M2 Carl Gustav gun.

The weapons and sights have been delivered over the past 12 months. The final installment was delivered to 7th Battalion in South Australia last month.

They are being used by Special Forces and Mentoring Taskforce 3 (MTF-3) in Afghanistan and have also been delivered to other Army units and the Air Force.

MTF-3 was the first Mentoring Taskforce to be deployed with the new weapon.

“The feedback from soldiers is that it is very effective,” Mr Clare said.

“It is used to knock down walls and blow up bunkers. It can also fire smoke filled ammunition and lights to improve soldiers’ visibility at night.

“Both the gun and sight are proven capabilities but Australia is the first country to use both as an integrated weapon system.

“The new gun combined with the thermal sight provides increased firepower and a night fighting capability.

“The gun barrel is made from composite materials instead of steel which also makes the weapon lighter for soldiers to carry.”

Mr Clare also announced that the supply of ammunition for the 84 mm Carl Gustav weapon has been secured with the signing of a long term agreement between Defence and Saab Dynamics AB.

The agreement is a Standing Offer to supply the ammunition over the next five years and has a potential value of up to $110 million.

Defence has now taken delivery of the first order of the ammunition under the Standing Offer.

The weapon can be fired from the standing, kneeling, sitting or prone positions and a bipod may be attached in front of the shoulder piece.

It is normally operated by a two-man crew, one carrying and firing the weapon, the other carrying ammunition and reloading.

AICPs set out the plan by Defence companies to maximise opportunities for the involvement of Australian industry in major Defence capability projects.

“This is an important reform for Australia’s Defence Industry,” Mr Clare said.

“It will ensure the commitments made by major Defence companies to Australian industry are public and they are held accountable for them.”

Earlier this year Mr Clare made a number of reforms to strengthen Australian Industry Capability Plans. This included:

• The reduction of the threshold for mandatory AICPs from $50 million to $20 million for all eligible Defence acquisition contracts;
• The removal of the ability of a company to arbitrarily reduce the level and type of work included in an AICP;
• The inclusion of a new clause in the Conditions of Tender allowing a company to be excluded from a tender if they have previously failed to meet their AICP obligations;
• The addition of AICP performance in the Company Scorecard used by Defence to assess a company’s performance; and
• Putting AICP performance in the DMO Project Manager’s Charter to make project teams accountable.

“This is the next step. It is a common-sense idea,” Mr Clare said.

“The Australian Defence Industry Network and a lot of Australian small and medium enterprises I have met with have asked for this and the Government has delivered.”

AICPs are also required for major sustainment contracts. The details of AICPs for major sustainment contracts signed after 1 January, 2012 will also be publicly released.

The detail published on each acquisition or sustainment AICP will depend on a range of factors including security classifications and commercials restrictions.

These reforms follow the Prime Minister’s announcement on 6 October of measures to strengthen opportunities for Australian industry to compete for work across Government.

Four more Super Hornets will arrive at RAAF Base Amberley this Friday, 21 October.

The occasion will be marked by a flight of up to 20 Super Hornets in formation over northern NSW and south east Queensland.

These 24 aircraft have been progressively delivered since the first tranche of Super Hornets arrived at RAAF Base Amberley in March 2010.

The purchase of the Super Hornets will ensure Australia’s regional air combat capability until the arrival of the Joint Strike Fighter.

The Super Hornet gives the Royal Australian Air Force the capability to conduct air-to-air combat, strike targets on land and at sea, suppress enemy air defences and conduct reconnaissance.

It is an operationally proven aircraft having been flown by the United States Navy since 2001.

The United States Navy have operated Super Hornets in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.

Australia is the first country outside the United States to fly the Super Hornet.

The arrival of these four aircraft mean that 12 aircraft, half of the total number of aircraft, are wired with the potential to be converted into Growlers in the future. Growlers give the aircraft the ability to jam the electronics systems of enemy aircraft and land-based radars and communications systems.

The aircraft are built by Boeing at its production line in St Louis, Missouri and have been delivered on schedule and under budget.

Mr Smith and Mr Clare thanked Boeing, the US Navy, the RAAF and Defence for their efforts in this important project.