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Raytheon Australia has announced it is teaming with Schiebel Pacific to lodge a tender response for the LAND 129 Phase 3 Tactical Unmanned Aerial System project for the Australian Army.
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Offering the Australian Army a fully integrated solution featuring an operationally superior rotary wing UAS that is optimised for future growth, Raytheon Australia confirmed that it has teamed with Schiebel Pacific.
This teaming couples Raytheon Australia’s 20-year pedigree as a trusted, prime systems integrator across multiple domains with Schiebel’s S-100 UAV platform to deliver a highly capable, low-risk offering that is intended to establish an enduring sovereign UAS capability.
Michael Ward, Raytheon Australia managing director, expressed his commitment to fulfil the requirements of LAND 129 Phase 3 in the interests of Defence and a sovereign Australian industry.
"Our solution is backed by Raytheon Australia’s 20 years of investment in sovereign complex systems integration and allows us to offer a world-class system to meet Army’s future tactical UAS requirements," Ward explained.
The Raytheon Australia team aims to deliver a solution that includes:
- Offers an operationally superior rotary wing UAS that is highly flexible and provides both a small footprint, no dedicated launch and recovery equipment and a high payload capacity;
- Provides real capability that has operated with the Australian military that’s ready now;
- Draws on Raytheon Australia’s strong reputation as an experienced, multi-domain systems integrator with proven processes and tools as well as highly experienced and capable people;
- Is low risk, including technology-wise because the platform is already fielded with the Royal Australian Navy, and low commercial, schedule and integration risks;
- Engages a team of Australian SMEs to provide a genuine Australian capability for Army and build a sovereign and enduring UAS industry to meet the Australian Defence Force’s future capability requirements; and
- Creates export opportunities for Australian industry.
Ward added, "Our team will deliver a highly capable, flexible and scalable solution that offers the lowest risk and the greatest opportunity for a sovereign UAS capability for Australia.”
Schiebel’s S-100 unmanned air system (UAS) is a proven capability for military and civilian applications – the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAS needs no prepared area or supporting launch or recovery equipment. It operates day and night, under adverse weather conditions, with a range out to 200 kilometres, both on land and at sea.
The S-100 navigates automatically via pre-programmed GPS waypoints or can be operated directly with a pilot control unit. Missions are planned and controlled via a simple point-and-click graphical user interface.
S-100 incorporates high-definition payload imagery is transmitted to the control station in real time – using "fly-by-wire" technology controlled by redundant flight computers, the UAV can complete its mission automatically in the most complex of electromagnetic environments.
S-100's carbon fibre and titanium fuselage provides capacity for a wide range of payload/endurance combinations.
Ward stated, "Numerous local SMEs will take part in the development of Raytheon Australia’s solution and emphasised his team’s strong AIC solution that prioritises Defence’s operational needs whilst maximising Australian industrial sovereignty."
Raytheon Australia provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems; as well as a broad range of mission support services.
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.
