Hornets Being Upgraded As Aussies Wait For JSF
Australian Minister for Defence Joel Fitzgibbon MP announced
this week his country's air capability has been further enhanced by
the successful testing of a new radar warning receiver, and Air
Force acceptance of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) 'Smart
Bomb.'
The first production configured F/A-18 Hornet fitted with a new
Radar Warning Receiver has successfully flown at RAAF Williamtown,
only 18 months after the decision to acquire the equipment. As part
of the Hornet upgrade program, Australia's fleet of F/A-18 aircraft
are being fitted with upgraded Radar Warning Receivers,
countermeasures systems and radar jamming systems.
Earlier this year, the Royal Australian Air Force accepted the
Operational and Technical Airworthiness of the JDAM on F/A-18A/B
fighter aircraft. The JDAM provides RAAF F/A-18A/B fighters with a
state-of-the-art weapon capability, allowing them to accurately
employ air-to-ground weapons during day or night and in all weather
conditions through the use of Global Positioning System (GPS)
technology.
"These upgrades to the F/A-18 Hornet
will provide the Royal Australian Air Force with leading-edge
technology, ensuring the Hornet's continued ability to operate as
Australia's frontline fighter aircraft," Fitzgibbon said. "The JDAM
'smart-bomb' will provide the Air Force with greatly improved
accuracy and weapon effectiveness, reducing the likelihood of
collateral damage during offensive operations.
"The upgrade to the Hornet's Radar Warning Receiver is a
significant achievement for the Defence Materiel Organisation as it
has only been 18 months since the Raytheon ALR-67(V)3 Radar Warning
Receiver was approved as part of the Hornet's Electronic Warfare
Self Protection upgrade."
During the 18 months since approval, the project acquired the
Radar Warning Systems, completed the design, integration and
testing required to install and operate the new system on the
Hornet. The project is within budget and on-track to deliver the
complete electronic warfare self protection upgrade to the entire
Hornet fleet by late 2012.
"Given the complexity of the project, the ability to deliver
within schedule and budget has been a big success for the Defence
Materiel Organisation," Fitzgibbon said.
Australia is upgrading its older Hornet fighters, as it waits
for its first advanced F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.