UV Online
Australia confirms Shadow 200B preferred for JP129
Australia’s Department of Defence has confirmed it is evaluating a non competitive acquisition of the AAI Shadow 200B as its preferred solution for its Joint Project 129 tactical UAS requirement.
The Australian Defence Materiel Organisation’s (DMO’s) JP129 project team is currently in the United States for talks with the United States Army tactical unmanned air vehicle (TUAV) programme office in Huntsville, Alabama.
A defence spokesperson has told Unmanned Vehicles that ‘Shadow 200 is the largest and most mature fleet of UAVs in the class sought by JP129 (Tier 3), that is currently operated by a coalition partner. The Shadow 200 also appears to be the closest match to Army’s JP129 TUAV requirements.’
The JP129 project office team has been in the US since early last week. The visit schedule includes a visit to ‘Ft Huachuca to conduct a review of the US Shadow 200 training system to assess its applicability to Australia’s military training continuum.’
The Huntsville talks follow the provision of US foreign military sales price and availability data to Australia on Shadow 200B in early April. Australia lodged an FMS application in January for options on four Shadow 200B systems, with the request seeking comparative costs for complete US Army configuration systems and basic level systems which would undergo further integration in Australia.
The spokesperson says that ‘US Army experience is very beneficial in validating Defence plans and approaches in supporting TUAVs and the US Army TUAV Programme Office is the subject matter expert on the US Shadow programme. The US Army TUAV programme office will also be able to advise Defence on the interoperability considerations of the Shadow 200 system in US service.
The spokesperson confirmed that there are no current plans for follow on visits to other shortlisted contenders for the project. ‘Visits to Elbit, Selex and Thales are not planned.’
Elbit and Thales have been offering Hermes 450 in a teaming arrangement.
Selex has been seeking to bid Falco.
AAI, Elbit, Thales, Israel Aerospace Industries and Selex all received visits from JP129 project staff during November last year as part of the DMO’s development of a revised acquisition strategy after the cancellation of orders for the IAI I-View 250 in September.
The Australian DMO has been indicating for the past three months that it has been preparing for the release of a restricted tender for the replacement requirement.
A Thales Australian spokesperson has told Unmanned Vehicles that ‘further to the position stated by Defence, Thales Australia is awaiting the release of a competition for JP129 to those companies with TUAV systems in service with coalition partners.
‘Thales can confirm it can deliver Tactical UAV systems to Australia that are currently being operated by UK Army every day, and that meet or exceed the capabilities required by JP129, within months from receipt of go ahead and within the published budget for JP129. We are also able to establish training facilities within Australia.’
Australia confirmed in early May that it had increased the budget cap for JP129 to A$157 million (US$119 million).
The JP129 project office team returns to Australia on 12 June.
By Peter La Franchi, Canberra
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