Posted on 12/08/2005 4:40:26 PM PST by naturalman1975
THE Federal Government is set to spend $1 billion to buy key electronic components for the proposed new air warfare destroyers, years before warships are built to put them in.
Defence Minister Robert Hill said the Government had approved the purchase of three Aegis weapon systems from the US Navy that will form part of the Aegis Combat System.
Senator Hill said that was the central element of the air warfare destroyers and was included in the $6-billion price tag for the three vessels.
He said buying now would save money in the long term.
"The Aegis Weapon System comprises the core command and control system, phased array radar and missile launch system capability," he said.
"Placing the order for the systems now allows the United States to continue manufacturing the systems for Australia without halting its production line, bringing about greater efficiency and achieving considerable savings.
"The purchase will also maximise opportunity for Australian industry to provide sub-systems such as communications, electronic warfare, sonar, electro-optical sensors and other equipment."
Under the air warfare destroyer plan, the Australian navy would acquire three vessels equipped with advanced radar and missile defences, able to defend task groups and deployed forces from air and missile attack.
Even before deciding on a ship design or a shipbuilder, the Government stipulated that the vessels would be equipped with the US-designed Aegis combat system.
It is regarded as the world's best maritime air warfare system, capable of detecting and defeating multiple hostile aircraft and missiles at ranges of more than150 km.
The Government decided in May the vessels would be constructed by the government-owned Adelaide-based ASC, formerly the Australian Submarine Corp.
It will decide next year which of two ship designs is preferred. The first is expected to enter service in 2013.
Senator Hill said the Government had provided $455 million towards the present phase of the project which included further design work, workforce skilling, initial infrastructure investment and facilities construction.
He said Raytheon Australia had been selected as preferred bidder for the Combat System-System Engineer contract in support of the combat system design and maintenance.
"Working closely with the US Navy on combat system integration and risk reduction studies will minimise the risk of any delay in the 2013 delivery date for the first Air Warfare Destroyer," he said.
"This decision maintains the government's option in mid-2007 at second pass to choose either the evolved design being developed by (US firm) Gibbs and Cox or the F-100 frigate military off-the-shelf design provided by Navantia of Spain."
mah, they'll need to be upgraded by the time the hulls are ready.
Buy them now, and they'll be obosolete in five years
(probably in five months).
If designed correctly the systems could use new technology as it comes along. That means they should buy the design but not the componets, yet. Heck, they probably already own the design so no need to buy anything at the moment.
The issue, apparently, is that some of the components are about to cease being manufactured.
By ordering now, the Australian government can have them manufactured as part of the last US production run.
If the Australian government delays, it will have to eventually pay for the whole production line being started up again.
Yes, I saw that and started to mention it as a justification. There are certain defense related industries that we keep alive even at a loss sometimes; shipbuilding, aircraft manufacture, certain electronics, steel making, etc.
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