Australia to operate Peregrine from Cocos Islands
Australia issued an expression of interest (EoI) on 5 March concerning the construction of an airborne EW and ISR forward operating base on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean.
Tender documentation revealed the infrastructure work is part of Project Air 555 Phase 1, the programme procuring four MC-55A Peregrine aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The Peregrine special mission aircraft, based on the Gulfstream G550, is not mentioned by name in the EoI, however.
The work would occur from July 2021 to December 2023, and responses from interested parties close on 14 April.
The Cocos (Keeling)
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Air Warfare
-
Dubai Airshow 2025: Anduril and Edge joint venture unveils Omen tailsitter UAV
The Group 3 UAV has also netted its first order from the UAE for 50 platforms, with full-scale production scheduled for 2028.
-
Russian fighter jet exportability threatened by sanctions, says think tank
The think tank realised its report just days before the Dubai Airshow, where the Su-57E Russian fighter jet and Yak-130M trainer and light attack aircraft will make their Middle Eastern debuts.
-
Analysis: South American domestic drone programmes fly high
While South American militaries will continue to import drone technology from extra-regional suppliers, the successful test of a locally manufactured kamikaze drone by the Brazilian Navy demonstrates the rising role of “made in South America” systems.
-
UAE: Domestic industries set to dominate the country’s $5.24 billion UAV market
The UAE is the second-highest spender on uncrewed aerial vehicles in the Middle East and the 15th-highest spender on the capability globally.
-
Taiwan to receive first MQ-9B drones by 2026
The delivery will include the first two of four MQ-9B aircraft to be received by the country, after the order was extended in 2024.