Australia is taking steps to develop a counter-IED (C-IED) capability as IEDs become more widespread and effective.
On Sept. 22, the Minister for Defense Sen. David Johnston said First Pass was approved for the LAND 154 Phase 2 Joint C-IED program, including approximately $17.3 million for a range of capability development activities, trials, risk reduction activities and industry solicitations.
The total value of this project at the next milestone, Second Pass, is anticipated to be more than $266 million. A decision will be made in 2016 or 2017 depending on the maturity of some of the cutting edge capabilities.
“Improvised Explosive Device (IED) have emerged as the weapon-of-choice against Australian forces deployed in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and the effectiveness of IEDs has more recently been demonstrated in Mali and Syria,” Johnston said. “The use of IEDs continues to increase globally and they are being employed by an expanding range of groups, including insurgents, terrorists and by conventional and unconventional military forces.”
LAND 154 Phase 2 is expected to provide Australian forces with “the ability to rapidly deploy appropriate Counter IED systems without reliance on allied partners for support,” he said.
The IED threat is one that the ADF and other Australian personnel will likely encounter in future operations in our region.
Capabilities to be explored by the Defense Department between first and second pass include: a deployable intelligence facility that will allow the ADF to rapidly respond to regional or local IED blast events and begin critical (and potentially lifesaving) analysis of evidence; a rapid and protected vehicle mounted system capability with the ability to safely detect IEDs at relatively rapid speed; and, new personnel and vehicle mounted counter IED systems capabilities.
“This project will provide Australian forces with the ability to independently deploy the appropriate Counter IED systems to meet future IED threats,” he said.
Additionally, on Wednesday, the department said approximately $22 million is earmarked for a facilities program for the testing, evaluation, training and sustainment of Force Protection Electronic Countermeasures equipment.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defense Darren Chester MP said the facilities project would significantly improve counter IED capabilities and meet defense capability requirements to 2050.
“The facilities delivered under this project will enable the Defense Force to maintain technologically advanced counter IED equipment, which will ensure our soldiers have the highest level of force protection when on operations,” Chester said.
The facilities and infrastructure works have been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works. Due to the importance of these facilities, the committee agreed for works to be started at a number of sites around the country. Works at Edinburgh in South Australia, Watsonia in Victoria and Moorebank in NSW have already been completed and work at other sites is ongoing.
“The main element of the project is a specialized test and evaluation facility at Nurrungar, South Australia,” Chester said. “Contracts for the facilities and infrastructure works will be tendered to the open market in due course and the Commonwealth’s Indigenous Opportunities policy will apply.”
Subject to Parliamentary approval, construction at Nurrungar is scheduled to commence in mid-2015 and is expected to be completed by early 2016.