Australian Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare Friday released the updated and complete Projects of Concern list.
The list was established in 2008 for projects with significant cost, capability or schedule issues.
Clare added Project AIR 5276 Phase 8B, which is to replace the AP-3C Orion aircraft’s Electronic Support Measures system.
“The advice to me from the Defence Materiel Organisation is that BAE Systems, awarded the Prime Contract in 2007, is currently 18 months behind the delivery schedule for the upgraded Electronic Support Measures equipment,” Clare said.
Since 2008, a total of 17 projects have been put on the list. Six have come off–five because the issues were addressed and one was canceled.
The 11 projects on the current list include: Project CN10, the Collins-class Submarine sustainment and projects; AIR 5077 Phase 3, the Wedgetail Airborne early warning and control Aircraft; and SEA 1448 Phase 2B, anti-ship missile defense radar upgrades for the Anzac-class frigates.
Also, JOINT 2043 Phase 3A, High Frequency Modernization-communications and data exchange capability for sea, air and land forces; AIR 5333 ‘Vigilare,’ aerospace surveillance and command and control system: JOINT 129 Phase 2, tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, airborne surveillance for land forces.
The other projects are: LAND 121 Phase 3 ‘Overlander’ medium heavy class of vehicles only; JOINT 2070, lightweight torpedo replacement for Anzac and Adelaide– class frigates; Air 5402 multi-role tanker transport aircraft–air-to-air refueling capability; and JOINT 2048 Phase 1A LCM2000 watercraft for landing platform amphibious ships.