UV Online 
High level meeting to decide way forward for Australian Defence Force tactical UAVs
Key decisions on the capability targets and acquisition method for the relaunch of the Australian army’s troubled Joint Project 129 tactical UAVs are expected to be made by the end of this month with senior defence leaders meeting in Canberra 25 September to finalise core requirements.
The meeting, to be chaired by the vice chief of the Australian Defence Force, General David Hurley, will include consideration of acquiring AAI RQ-7B Shadow 200B UAS in the identical configuration as now fielded by the US army and marine corps.
In parallel the Australian Department of Defence is considering an unsolicited proposal from Thales Australia for the supply of Elbit Hermes 450 in a services deal directly modelled on the British Army’s services lease with U-TACS.
The Australian government announced 4 September that that it was terminating the existing JP129 contract with Boeing Australia for the acquisition of IAI I-View 250 UAS.
The RQ-7B acquisition option is baselined on a US foreign military sales deal. However, no formal talks have yet been initiated by either the Australian or US sides.
RQ-7B prime contractor AAI has, however, sought meetings with senior Australian government officials in recent days and is understood to be proposing a delivery schedule that matches the ADF’s previous in service target for the JP129 tactical UAS of late 2009.
The Elbit proposal is based on rapid delivery of systems to support current Australian Army operations in Afghanistan with options for more formal linkages to the UK’s Watchkeeper programme.
The office of Australia’s minister for defence procurement, Greg Combet, confirmed 22 September that it was still to receive formal recommendations from the department on how best to progress JP129 in the aftermath of the cancellation decision.
Australia’s Defence Materiel Organisation said 22 September that decisions on the replacement acquisition method remain dependent on government decisions.
AAI competed the JP 129 tender phase in a teaming arrangement with BAE Systems Australia but finished third in the overall competition. Thales Australia came second in the competition, offering the Elbit Hermes 180 with options for H450.
By Peter La Franchi, Canberra
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