BAE wins Hornet monitoring contract

BAE Systems Australia has secured a new contract to provide vital usage monitoring services for the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF’s) F/A-18 Hornet fighters.

The three-year contract, with extension options, is valued at approximately $3 million and will support 10 jobs at Williamtown in NSW and Richmond in Victoria.

Under the contract, BAE Systems will gather, track and report fatigue-related information about the Hornet’s airframe and engines using a unique, Australian developed Maintenance Diagnostic and Service Life Monitoring System.

BAE Systems Australia has also developed a suite of diagnostic software tools that provide the RAAF with the capability to conduct detailed investigations into generic aircraft operational characteristics, and into the causes of specific aircraft incidents.

In 2008, BAE Systems was selected to develop a similar capability for the RAAF’s new fleet of 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets.

BAE Systems Australia has delivered comprehensive airframe and engine fatigue monitoring services for the RAAF’s Hornet fleet since 1983.

Since 2009, BAE Systems Australia and L-3 MAS Canada have also been providing long-term maintenance and modification support for the RAAF’s Hornets.