Australia’s Whiskey Project delivers two watercraft to US Marine Corps

Australian specialist and tactical watercraft manufacturer The Whiskey Project Group (TWPG) has successfully delivered the first two 11-metre Whiskey Bravo – Multi Mission Reconnaissance Craft (MMRC) to the United States Marine Corps (USMC) at the Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, in southern California.

CAPTION: An 11-metre Whiskey Bravo Multi Mission Reconnaissance Craft, delivered to the United States Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton, California. Photo supplied.

The vessels were accepted by the Marine Corps War Fighting Lab (MCWL) and are being used extensively by the reconnaissance Marines to host and trial a number of different mission payloads.

In one of the first industry-led examples of AUKUS Pillar II technology collaboration and sharing, the Whiskey Bravo incorporates almost 50 US and Australian original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including a range of world-leading systems, sensors, modular mission sets and intelligence surveillance reconnaissance (ISR) systems.

The trials included analysing a wide range of critical, mission-specific payloads built specifically for USMC operational theatres, as well as trialling a series of multi-scenario combat operations.

This delivery of the first two Whiskey Bravos follows a comprehensive competitive evaluation process in which TWPG was awarded a US$20.5 million (AU$33.8 million) contract to supply a number of both its 8-metre Whiskey Alpha and 11-metre Whiskey Bravo vessels to the USMC.

TWPG co-founder and CEO Darren Schuback said that from the very outset, The Whiskey Project Group’s mission was to redefine tactical watercraft and create a new generation of safer, completely networked, combat-ready, fit-for-purpose platforms, based on our own naval special-operations experience.

“We’re extremely appreciative of the US Department of Defense and USMC’s focus on innovation-sharing opportunities with life-long allies like Australia,” Schuback said.

“The contracting process enabled by DIU makes it easier for private-sector companies to rapidly fill real time capability gaps faced by war fighters and combatant commanders.

“US DIU and USMCs contracting of TWPG is a tangible example of Australia continuing to expand, evolve and innovate in Australia’s defence cooperation with the US in areas like maritime patrol, by combining strengths and pooling resources across sovereign borders.”

TWPG continue to engage with the Australian Defence Force, delivering cutting-edge watercraft solutions and will look to participate in LAND 8710-3 for the delivery of vessels to the Australian Army’s re-configured littoral manoeuvre brigade.

 

 

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