Air Power: F-111, End of the Pig tale | ADM Feb 2011

Katherine Ziesing | Canberra

While the F-111 has had its ups and downs, it provided a valuable capability to the RAAF for decades, supported by a range of Australian companies. ADM takes a quick look at some of these players.

Raytheon Australia came onto the scene when the DMO commercialised the RAAF’s support for the F-111 weapon System in 2001. Responsible for deeper maintenance, engineering and logistics support for F-111 avionics, the Strike Reconnaissance Systems Program Office (SRSPO) and Raytheon Australia developed a trusted partnership through the Avionics Business Unit  (AVBU) contract.

Over the life of the AVBU contract, the SRSPO and Raytheon achieved savings approaching $20 million. This was a significant outcome as these financial savings were accompanied by an improvement in levels of safety, regulatory compliance and operational support to the F-111 aircraft.

Boeing and the F-111 have been synonymous in Australia for the last decade. This partnership commenced in the mid-1990s when heritage Boeing company Rockwell Australia, was selected to upgrade the F-111 avionics suite from analogue to digital. Not only did the project bring the F-111 into the twenty-first century, it enabled Boeing Defence Australia to establish its credentials in modifying this mission critical aircraft.

Tasman Aviation Enterprises (TAE) is proud to have been associated with the F-111 aircraft especially the Through Life Support (TLS) of the F-111’s TF30 engines. The capability that existed on RAAF Base Amberley in support of the TF30 engines was world-class and enabled the full overhaul and repair of all components and accessories on site.

A number of TAE staff have been involved with the TF30 fleet for nearly 40 years as they were sent to the US for training ahead of the F-111 fleet arrival in Australia in 1973. This diverse capability and vastly experienced workforce enabled TAE to repair and overhaul TF30 engines for a decade and provide the RAAF with a number of safety, availability and maintainability benefits.

From the early days of providing reclamation and maintenance, repair and overhaul for flight controls, Rosebank Engineering has evolved, providing advanced engineering, maintenance, repair and overhaul, manufacturing, assembly and test services while continuing its successful engineering track record on asset life extension programs for the ADF. As an authorised engineering and maintenance organisation Rosebank holds delegated authority on a large number of operating platforms in ADF service.

Rosebank Engineering commenced its long association with the F-111 aircraft in 1989, when the aircraft had problems with its Horizontal Stabiliser. Rosebank developed a specialised test and analysis system as part of a solution that saved the Commonwealth Government millions of dollars and contributed to the operational effectiveness and sustainability of the F-111 aircraft.

Rosebank made further savings for the Commonwealth in the 1990s after the F-111’s Original Equipment Manufacturers ceased to produce critical parts. By applying reverse engineering and development techniques and its specialist machining processes, Rosebank was able to build these parts.

From 1994, Rosebank was responsible for the repair and maintenance of flight control components at RAAF Base Amberley. In 2001 as part of the Weapons Systems Business Unit support contract awarded to Boeing Australia Limited (BAL), Rosebank Engineering was subcontracted to BAL to provide further repair and overhaul activities for all F-111 hydraulic, fuel, mechanical and pneumatic components. 

Rosebank’s capabilities now encompass a range of actuation systems, hydraulics, electrohydraulic, mechanical, undercarriages, flight controls, fuel, wheels and brakes and other complex components for the ADF and defence and aerospace global supply chains.