BAE Systems to continue RAAF Wedgetail EW support
BAE Systems has signed a $77 million contract extension with Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) to continue to support electronic warfare sub-systems on the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF’s) Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft.
BDA signed a contract earlier this month to continue its support of the RAAF Wedgetail fleet through to 2019.
The contract will see BAE Systems continue its work to provide engineering, maintenance and spares support for the Wedgetail electronic warfare suite. This equipment is operated by on-board sensor specialists to locate and identify radar emitters and to protect the aircraft and its crew from potential missile threats.
Kim Scott, director land and integrated systems, said: ‘We are very pleased to retain this work and specialist skills in South Australia. We trust that continued success on this programme will help demonstrate that this type of advanced technology and capability can be provided locally to world standards.’
Mark Horton, acting Wedgetail in-service support program manager, BDA, added: ‘BAE Systems is a key partner in the Wedgetail support programme. The extension to BAE Systems’ contract recognises the results achieved during the initial support period and continues the excellent partnership we have established.’
The new contract will see BAE Systems continue its work on the programme through to 2019. Following that there is a provision for ongoing extensions, subject to satisfactory performance.
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