ADF receives first Project Currawong equipment

Boeing has delivered the first lot of equipment for the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF’s) Project Currawong.

Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) has achieved Initial Material Release for the transit case version of its networked communications solution for the programme. The system provides secure wideband voice, data and video services over wireless and wired infrastructure between Australia’s land-based deployed forces and headquarters.

Training and equipment deliveries have taken place to a number of Royal Australian Air Force squadrons ahead of Exercise Hamel in 2018, when ADF will first operate the system.

Deliveries have included 18 deployable communication nodes and an Australian fixed strategic communications anchor site. This incorporates Boeing’s core communication system components, the network access module and mission system management, which connect and manage the communication bearers and services Boeing and its partners are bringing to the programme.

Boeing will also design a vehicle mounted version of the solution in parallel with the ongoing rollout of the transit case version to additional army and air force units.

Darren Edwards, BDA vice president and managing director, said: ‘Boeing’s success in creating the hardware and software that meets Australia’s battlespace communications needs within a complex fixed price development programme is testament to our partnership with our customer as well as our growing Australian supply chain supporting this important capability.

‘Together, we’ve designed, built, tested and manufactured an Australian-made, highly scalable and agile networking solution to ensure Australia gets exactly what it needs: a communications solution matched to operate in an ever-evolving threat environment.’