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All they’re ready for?
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On September 12, 2006, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Australia’s A$ 400 million ALR2002 project, aimed at putting radar and infared missile warning systems (RWRs) in Australia’s helicopters, transports and F/A-18s, has ended in at least partial failure with the scrapping of F/A-18 integration under the HUG 2.3 upgrade program. Sticking with the offering from
BAE Systems Australia’s electronic warfare division, they said, would deliver the project at least 2 years late and A$ 200 million over budget.

In response, a decision was formally announced on November 13, 2006. Additional clarification is now forthcoming regarding the deployment of BAE’s technologies, the equipment selected in its place for the F/A-18, and the connection between this move and the recent F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production program announcement in Australia….

ALR-67: In Through the Out Door

AN/ALR-67 V3
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Without BAE’s RWR systems, Australia’s fighter fleet would be left without defensive warning systems to notify them of incoming anti-aircraft missiles. A gap that would leave their fighters unable to operate in even medium-threat environments without high risk.

In response to these reports of contract cancellation, the Minister issued a September 13, 2006 release noting that the system was “under review,” and offering reassurances re: BAE’s jobs if the F/A-18 integration should be canceled. According to the Minister’s September 2005 release, only A$ 94 million was spent on the ALR 2002 project, and the system has been successfully tested on CH-47 Chinook and S-70A Black Hawk helicopters as well as DHC-4 Caribou and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

The follow-on Nov 13/06 release confirms the choice of Raytheon’s offering in its stead for the F/A-18 HUG program, and commits the Australian government to using BAE’s technology only on its helicopter fleet:

“The ALR-67(V)3 will be progressively fitted to the F/A-18 from 2008 with Full Operational Capability achieved in 2011.

Working variants of the ALR-2002 RWR, developed by BAE, will be fitted to our helicopter, and possibly, transport fleets…. the CEO of BAE Systems Australia, Mr Jim McDowell, has assured me that no jobs will be lost as a result of this action.”

Raytheon’s ALR-67 is already installed in other F/A-18 fighters around the world as standard equipment, including F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets. A paper from Raytheon Australia originally touted the ALR-67 (V)3, which is the most up-to-date version, as the ideal choice for the HUG 2.3 Hornet upgrades. It was also said to be the preferred choice of the panel of experts that advised the government on this contract.

The ALR-67 and the Joint Strike Fighter

Australia’s in…
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DID readers will recall the Australian government’s Joint Strike Fighter announcement, and Defence Minister Nelson’s November 10, 2006 statement that:

“To cover against potential delays that can occur with projects of this scope, the Government is looking at cost effective options to ensure Australia maintains air superiority during the transition period.”

The November 13, 2006 release regarding the ALR-67 in titled “Ensuring Australia’s Air Combat Capability Edge.” It notes that:

“The Government has taken an additional step to ensure that the F/A-18 delivers Australia’s air combat capability edge during the transition to the Joint Strike Fighter.

As part of our plan to maintain air superiority in our region, the F/A-18 fleet is undergoing substantial combat enhancement under the Hornet Upgrade Program. The upgrades delivered under this program will give the F/A-18 enhanced air to air combat capability and strike capabilities. ....we have concluded that this [radar warning receiver] technology cannot be delivered within the necessary timeframe. Ensuring the success of the extensive Hornet upgrade and Australia’s regional superiority is the most important priority and requires us to progress with another, proven option [the AN/ALR-67 (v)3].”

The strong implication of this pairing is that the switchout of the ALR2002 for the ALR-67 is the main effort contemplated by the Australian government to replace the long-range F-111 fleet being retired early in 2010, and cope with the proliferation of advanced SU-27/30 family aircraft in their region, until the arrival of F-35A Lightning II aircraft around the middle to end of the 2010s. If so, replacement of an already-expected function in an F/A-18C equivalent Hornet fleet is unlikely to soothe the F-35 decision’s critics.

DID sent a question to the Minister requesting clarification regarding this issue.; it received no response, but in late December 2006 DID covered Australia’s next move in “Australia to Buy 24 Super Hornets As Interim Gap-Filler to JSF?” Those F/A-18F aircraft will also carry the ALR-67.

UPDATES

July 11/07: Raytheon Electronics Systems in Goleta, CA received a $24.4 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-04-C-0123), exercising an option for 24 Full-Rate Production Lot 10 AN/ALR-67(V)3 Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) systems for the Royal Australian Air Force under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Raytheon’s Aug 2/07 release confirms that the order is for Australia’s F/A-18F Super Hornets.

Work will be performed in El Segundo, Calif. (27%); Goleta, CA (23%); Lansdale, PA (23%); Forest, MS (21%); Portland, OR (3%), and McKinney, TX (3%), and is expected to be complete in September 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD issued the contract.

April 19/07: Raytheon Electronics Systems in Goleta, CA received a $77.8 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-04-C-0123) to exercise an option for the full-rate-production of 97 Lot 9 AN/ALR-67(V)3 Radar Warning Receivers (RWR) for the U.S. Navy (24) and the Royal Australian Air Force (55), including spare weapon replaceable assemblies for the U.S. Navy (6) and for the Royal Australian Air Force (12). An Aug 2/07 Raytheon release confirms that these systems will be used as part of its F/A-18A Hornet UpGrade (HUG) program

Work will be performed in El Segundo, CA (27%); Goleta, CA (23%); Lansdale, PA (23%); Forest, MS (21%); McKinney, TX (3%); and Portland, OR (3%), and is expected to be complete in March 2010. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($25.1 million; 32.23%) and the Government of Australia ($52.7 million; 67.77%) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD issued the contract.

March 19/07: Raytheon formally announces the Australian ALR-67(v)3 radar warning receiver contract, which will be part of the Hornet Upgrade (HUG) program. The RAAF intends to procure 66 ALR-67(V)3 systems as part of a continuing production contract Raytheon has with the U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD.

To kick off the program, Raytheon recently received a $6.3 million antenna contract from the Navy [see DID coverage] that includes delivery of 20 antenna sets for the RAAF and forward antenna development effort for the RAAF and the Finland Air Force. Kathy Weiler, Raytheon’s ALR-67(V)3 program director: “This program will not only provide the RAAF F/A-18 fleet the most advanced, effective radar warning receiver available, it will also bring new technology and in-country work content to Australia.”

(Originally posted September 14, 2006)