Government pays BAE to expand F-35 maintenance capacity
Share the post "Government pays BAE to expand F-35 maintenance capacity"
The Australian government has signed a Facility Services Deed worth more than $100 million with BAE Systems Australia to expand the F-35A depot maintenance capability at Newcastle Airport.
FILE PHOTO: Joint Strike fighter A35-11 departs for a night sortie from RAAF Base Williamtown. Photo by Corporal Craig Barrett.
This deed will see expansion from two to six maintenance bays, enabling BAE Systems Australia to progressively meet forecasted service and maintenance demands for Australia’s F-35A Lightning II fleet.
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said this expansion would be accompanied with an increase in workforce in the Hunter, as the sustainment phase for the F-35 program continues to be established.
“The construction at BAE System Australia’s existing South Hangar facility at Newcastle Airport site will provide opportunities for local jobs, to local suppliers and subcontractors,” Minister Conroy said.
“All 72 F-35A jets will be sustained and upgraded at this facility in Newcastle over the next three decades, bringing opportunities and jobs to the region for years to come.
“Australia’s participation in the F-35 Global program continues to deliver significant benefits to the Hunter region and broader national economy,” Minister Conroy said.
“To date, more than 70 Australian companies have won more than $3 billion in production and sustainment contracts as part of the global F-35 Program.”
Fifty-seven F-35A Lightning II jets have been accepted by Australia to date with the full fleet of 72 on track to be delivered by the end of 2023.
The Australian government is currently considering the next stage of the project which will look to support further expansion of the Hunter maintenance depot beyond six bays from 2026.
.
.
.
.
Share the post "Government pays BAE to expand F-35 maintenance capacity"
![Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States have successfully demonstrated the integration of advanced autonomy and artificial intelligence (AI) to test the resilience of autonomous assets in a contested environment. Conducted in South Australia in late 2023, the Trusted Operation of Robotic Vehicles in a Contested Environment (TORVICE) trial combined Australian, UK and US innovation and technology to test leading-edge AI in uncrewed robotic vehicles. TORVICE tested the ability of autonomous vehicles to complete their missions and preserve network connectivity in a contested environment. In December 2023, AUKUS Defence ministers announced that resilient and autonomous artificial intelligence technologies would be integrated into national programs in 2024. The TORVICE trial takes us a step closer to adopting these technologies in the land domain. The trial comprised UK and US robotic ground vehicles to represent autonomous multi-domain launchers and uncrewed ground vehicles, tasked to conduct long-range precision fires and other associated missions. The vehicles carried no weapons during the trial. Australian scientists subjected the vehicles to attacks from electronic warfare, electro optical laser, and position, navigation and timing systems to test resilience. Guy Powell, Principal Adviser, Land Autonomy, UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, said networked autonomy would be critical to future warfighting. “Robotic and autonomous systems have the potential to transform the battlefield providing a force multiplier while reducing risk to warfighters,” he said. “TORVICE allows us to understand robotic autonomous systems' operation in a contested environment and increase resilience of these systems. Working across three nations will accelerate development of robust capable systems.” Shane Canney, Chief Land and Integrated Force, Defence Science and Technology Group,saidinteroperability with AUKUS partners on land, at sea, in the air and in cyber space would support the ADF to maintain its strategic military edge. “Understanding how robotic vehicles react in contested environments accelerates our collective know-how and helps improve the system to overcome such attacks,” Dr Canney said. “Transitioning trusted robotic capabilities into the hands of our warfighters safely and ethically is a priority.” Kimberly Sablon, Principal Director for Trusted Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy, US Department of Defense, said TORVICE built uponthe first AUKUS artificial intelligence and autonomy trial held in the UK. “The TORVICE project builds upon the work the AUKUS partners demonstrated in Salisbury in April [2023],” Dr Sablon said. “During this exercise, we performed rigorous red teaming of our autonomous and AI systems to assess and mitigate vulnerabilities and to improve their resilience in contested and complex environments.” Through AUKUS, Australia, the UK, and the US are collaborating to accelerate collective understanding of AI and autonomy technologies, and how to rapidly field robust, trustworthy AI and autonomy in complex operations. Australia, the UK and the US continue to uphold the values of safe and responsible use of AI.](https://www.contactairlandandsea.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20240206adf8694556_02.png.iifBqeHeMRUtk71jYBMA.wgYb_wPkjw-390x205.jpg)
