31 March 2014 BAE Systems

Adelaide, SA: BAE Systems today signed an AU $77 million, five-year contract extension with Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) to continue support for the electronic warfare sub-systems aboard the RAAF’s Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft.

This extends the existing support contract until at least mid-2019 and retains 35 high skilled positions in South Australia. It also keeps BAE Systems at the forefront of Australia’s electronic warfare capability. The extension follows the recently announced signing of a five-year extension to the Wedgetail support prime contract between BDA and the Commonwealth.

BAE Systems has provided engineering, maintenance and spares support for the Wedgetail electronic warfare suite under subcontract to Boeing for the past two and a half years. The state-of-the-art equipment is operated by on-board sensor specialists to locate and identify radar emitters and to protect the aircraft and its crew from potential missile threats.

“We are very pleased to retain this work and specialist skills in South Australia,” said Kim Scott, Director Land & Integrated Systems. “We trust that continued success on this program will help demonstrate that this type of advanced technology and capability can be provided locally to world standards.”

“BAE Systems is a key partner in the Wedgetail support program”, said BDA’s Mark Horton, Acting Wedgetail In-Service Support Program Manager.  “The extension to BAE Systems’ contract recognises the results achieved during the initial support period and continues the excellent partnership we have established.”

“We are very proud to be associated with the Wedgetail project and look forward to continuing that association,” said Mr Scott.