• (L-R) Sergeant Nicholas Petersen and Trooper Marc Berg of the Australian Army’s School of Armour display the M1A1 Abrams tank and ammunition variations at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon. An example of a M865 round is second from right. Credit: Defence
    (L-R) Sergeant Nicholas Petersen and Trooper Marc Berg of the Australian Army’s School of Armour display the M1A1 Abrams tank and ammunition variations at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon. An example of a M865 round is second from right. Credit: Defence
Close×

FMS approvals for Abrams rounds and Super Hornet upgrades

13 July 2017
Comments Comments

The ADF is set to receive a large cache of M1A1 Abrams tank ammunition as well as upgrades for the RAAF's Super Hornets after a foreign military sale (FMS) approval by the US State Department.  

Six thousand and thirty (6,030) rounds of M865 120mm Target Practice Cone Stabilised Discarding Sabot-Tracer (TPCSDS-T) Tank Projectiles and eight thousand six hundred and ten (8,610) rounds of M1002 120mm Target Practice Multipurpose Tracer (TPMP-T) Tank Projectiles have been requested for an estimated cost of US$50 million.

 

Australia will use the ammunition to help sustain necessary training levels for its M1A1 Abrams operators

 

Also included are US Government technical services, technical data, and other related elements of logistical and program support. Australia will use the ammunition to help sustain necessary training levels for its M1A1 Abrams operators.

Also requested are 32 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) with four channel Concurrent Multi-Network (CMN-4), and 39 AN/ALQ-214A(V)4 Countermeasure Systems for RAAF F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. The US$101.4 million sale would also include all system integration and testing, component improvement, test and tools equipment upgrades, and other related elements of logistical and program support.

The AN/ALQ-214 system blends sensitive receivers and active countermeasures to form an electronic shield for the US Navy and RAAF F/A-18 aircraft. The RF countermeasure system responds to threats autonomously with a specific series of measures designed to protect the aircraft from detection and engages any fired threats to the aircraft.

The equipment will assist the RAAF to better communicate with and protect its F/A-18 aircraft, and the addition of MIDS JTRS will accomplish the goal of making US and Australian aircraft more interoperable when supporting operational forces.

comments powered by Disqus