Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) has signed a 10-year contract to provide operational and field support and engineering services to the ADF.
BDA will work with specialist EW company, Melbourne-based SME SouthTech Engineering (STE), and Boeing’s US subsidiary, Digital Receiver Technology (DRT), to support the delivery of the Tactical Electronic Warfare System – Land Support contract.
Under the agreement, BDA will carry out the supply, repair, contract management and engineering support services for the Australian Army’s equipment. The contract builds on the company’s existing EW experience on the E-7A Wedgetail, P-8A Poseidon and EA-18G Growler platforms and in programming with software protocols.
STE, which supplies electronic equipment to military and intelligence customers, will primarily provide training and operational and maintenance support at Borneo Barracks at Cabarlah, west of Brisbane – where the army’s EW equipment is based – and at Sydney and Western Australian army bases.
“Our partnership with STE allows us to tap into their extensive knowledge and experience in EW and grow our business in that market,” said Matt Buckle, BDA director, Emerging Markets.
“By partnering with us, STE gains direct reach-back into the Boeing enterprise which will help foster their growth in Australia’s EW market – plus we offer them contract stability under one overarching agreement, thereby reducing the burden on the Commonwealth of Australia.
“This contract unites the best of Boeing and industry and is an important next step in further developing the ADF's sovereign EW capabilities for the protection of Australia and its allies.”