Defence Business: BAE Systems, Raytheon, Hawker Beechcraft to bid Air 5428 | ADM Apr 2011
Gregor Ferguson | Sydney
The only team to have declared its hand for Project Air 5428, the ADF’s new flying training program, is BAE Systems Australia, Raytheon Australia and Hawker Beechcraft which displayed its T-6C Texan II turboprop trainer at Avalon.
Under the teaming agreement Hawker Beechraft will supply the aircraft, which is based on the US Navy’s T-6B configuration, BAE Systems will be responsible for sustainment, while Raytheon will be the Prime Contractor and Prime Systems Integrator as well as the engineering authority for the aircraft.
It’s understood that Flight Screening is not part of the scope of Air 5428, though this is something BAE Systems carries out for the ADF at Tamworth. This omission may make bidders reluctant to sign a Performance-Based Contract for Air 5428 if they have no control over the selection and screening of cadets.
Depending on the level and quality of synthetic training aids employed it may be possible to use the T-6C as an all-through trainer from basic right through to wings standard.
Raytheon’s Gerard Foley told reporters the Army is “happy” with this idea because its glass cockpit matches the complexity of the aircraft to which Army pilots will graduate and helps teach systems management from the start of the training syllabus.
The partners didn’t speculate on how many aircraft might be required to replace the RAAF’s current fleet of 65 PC-9A advanced trainers, supported by the 27 CT-4B basic trainers and three CAP10s currently operated by BAE Systems at Tamworth.
The draft RFT for this project was also due shortly after the Avalon air show and it seems likely this and Air 9000 Ph 7 will go to tender almost concurrently. Companies like BAE Systems won’t have trouble responding to two RFT concurrently, according to BAE Systems CEO Jim McDowell.
Note: the author got the opportunity to fly in the T-6C during the Avalon air show; his account will be published in the May 2011 edition.