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Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price has announced a $50 million, five-year contract with Lockheed Martin Australia to provide ongoing sustainment of the Tactical Air Defence Radar System (TADRS), which is used by the Royal Australian Air Force for air surveillance operations.
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Lockheed Martin Australia has been awarded a contract for the ongoing sustainment of the Tactical Air Defence Radar System (TADRS), continuing a long-standing Air Battlespace Management capability partnership between Lockheed Martin Australia and the Department of Defence
Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price said the $50 million contract will sustain the mobile radar system, create five new positions in Williamtown, NSW, and contains more than 90 per cent Australian industry content.
"This is a great example of the importance of partnerships between Defence and industry with the creation of additional highly skilled positions in what is a vibrant regional defence hub," Minister Price said.
Lockheed Martin Australia was awarded the contract to deliver the TADRS Block 3 Upgrade Project in 2014. The TADRS is a deployable tactical air defence radar based on the Lockheed Martin AN/TPS77 Long Range Radar System that enables air surveillance, command and control functions in support of military and humanitarian missions.
It can be deployed via air, land or sea and can operate either autonomously with minimal maintenance staff or with a complement of surveillance operators, dependent upon mission needs.
Designed to be a multi-mission radar, the TPS-77 incorporates the best AN/TPS-59 and FPS-117 features to create an economical, high performing, fixed or mobile radar that can be transported via C-130, C-17, truck, rail or helicopter.
Minister Price added, "The TADRS complements the Morrison government’s investment in Australia’s surveillance and intelligence data collection and analysis capability.
"The importance of this capability was highlighted in the recently-released 2020 Force Posture Plan.
"With more than 90 per cent of the contract dedicated to Australian industry content, this project not only delivers new technology for a cutting edge Australian Defence Force but also represents an enormous opportunity for Australian industry."
Joe North, Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, said Lockheed Martin Australia was proud to continue partnering with the Department of Defence in sustaining a crucial part of Australia’s Air Battlespace Management capability. We are proud to have provided sustainment services in support of Australia’s TADRS capability for sixteen years and the award of this new contract will ensure the continuation of the TADRS Program well into the future," Mr North said.
"The TADRS is absolutely vital to Australia’s ability to rapidly deploy air surveillance as well as command and control functions wherever the mission requires," Minister Price said.
Mr North also highlighted the considerable progress made by the Department of Defence and Lockheed Martin Australia to continue to train and build sovereign sustainment capabilities and maximise program efficiencies.
Lockheed Martin Australia employs a team of 25 skilled systems, hardware and logistics engineers, technicians, program managers, commercial and business staff to work on the TADRS.
They have maintained and refreshed the radar system to ensure the high levels of availability required to defend Australia and to support deployed operations.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
