UPGRADES to the Air Force’s fleet of electronic warfare aircraft, as well as boosts to capability at sites like Air Base Amberley – will strengthen the nation’s electronic attack capability, Defence Minister Pat Conroy says.
Project AIR 5349 Phase 6 – Advanced Growler, Mr Conroy said, would “deliver the leading-edge technology the Air Force needed to face an increasingly complex and uncertain strategic environment”.
Australian radar company CEA Technologies is one of the latest firms to be awarded a contract to provide advanced electronic capabilities that will include technology to support training exercises and strengthen capability.
The $277 million contract is the first to be awarded under Phase 6, which has an approved budget of more than $2 billion.
Mr Conroy said it was the government’s aim to include Australian companies in the project.
“The government is working closely with Defence industry partners and Australian companies will be involved as much as possible throughout the life of this project,” Mr Conroy said.
“I’m proud that this project will continue to develop Australia’s own CEA Technologies, a world leading radar technology company,” Mr Conroy said.
“We are delivering leading edge technology the RAAF needs to face an increasingly complex and uncertain strategic environment.”
The EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft is capable of disrupting, deceiving or denying military electronic systems, including radar and communications.
Growler upgrades will include things such as sensor modernisation, anti-radiation missile war stock, longer-range and more advanced anti-radiation missiles, and enhanced electronic warfare training ranges capability.
Facility improvements will be carried out at RAAF Amberley and the Delamere Air training area near Katherine in the Northern Territory.
Meanwhile, Five EA-18G Growlers from 6 Squadron at Amberley and about 100 aviators who took part in Exercise Red Flag Nellis at the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, US, have now ended the joint military exercise.
