Project

Explanation

Description

The $3,629 million Project Air 5349 Phase 1 will acquire 24 Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets, associated weapons, support, and training systems to establish a bridging air combat capability.

Background

In November 2006, Government directed Defence to develop options to de-risk the transition from the current Australian Defence Force (ADF) air combat capability to the new air combat capability being acquired under Project Air 6000. To achieve this, Defence established Project Air 5349 to acquire a bridging air combat capability for the ADF. In March 2007, a joint sitting of the Expenditure Review Committee and National Security Committee of Cabinet approved the acquisition and sustainment of 24 F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft and associated weapons, support, and training systems.

Under Project Air 5349 Ph 1, 24 F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft and associated training and support systems will be acquired primarily through Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Cases with the US.

The 24 F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft being acquired include alternate mission equipment; electronic warfare equipment (with an Australian-unique data library); targeting pods; communication and navigation suites. The training systems being acquired include tactical flight simulators (known as Tactical Operation Flight Trainers), cockpit procedural trainers (known as Low Cost Trainers), and maintenance training simulators (known as Integrated Visual Environment Maintenance Trainers). The support systems being acquired include an automated maintenance environment, support and test equipment to operate and maintain the aircraft, initial aircrew and maintenance training; and the provision for three years worth of repairable items and breakdown spares, including fly-away-kits.

Weapons for the Super Hornet aircraft are being acquired under a separate project phase, Air 5349 Phase 2. Integration of weapons onto aircraft is within the scope for Phase 1.

Uniqueness

The F/A-18F Super Hornets are a military-Off-The-Self (MOTS) aircraft acquisition. The aircraft are common with US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornets with the only significant configuration difference being the inclusion of a civilian-compatible Instrument Landing System.

The F/A-18F Super Hornets was a directed Government solution resulting from the combined first and second pass project approval process.

The timeframe between the Government approval of the project and the Initial Operational Capability date is significantly shorter than for other major aerospace acquisitions.

The majority of acquisition activity is being undertaken through a US FMS Sales Case.

Major Challenges

Whilst the aircraft are MOTS with a current production line running, the acquisition of the training and support systems needed requirements definition and design development activities so that they could be integrated into existing Australian operational and sustainment infrastructure.

Project currently managing the delivery of facilities and Support and Test Equipment to an aggressive timeline to sustain initial flying operations in Australia.

Current Status

Cost Performance

The project remains within its current approved budget.

Schedule Performance

The project remains on schedule in order to meet Initial Operational Capability (IOC) by December 2010 and Final Operational Capability (FOC) by December 2012 noting the challenges discussed above.

Air 5349 Phase 1 achieved a number of significant milestones in this reporting period including the initial delivery of five aircraft (one month ahead of schedule with one additional aircraft) and achievement of the In Service Date. The necessary Engineering and Maintenance arrangements to support aircraft operations within Australia from April 2010 have also been established.

Capability Performance

The initial Super Hornet Airworthiness Board was successfully held 12 Feb 10. Subsequently, a Special Flight Permit (SFP) was issued by Chief of Air Force on 25 Feb 10 for Super Hornet operations. The first five Super Hornet aircraft were delivered to Amberley 26 Mar 10 and initial flying operations have commenced within Australia.