Concept art of an F-35A launching two Joint Strike Missiles. Image: KONGSBERG.
Adelaide-based BAE Systems Australia has been awarded a $160 million contract to supply passive radio frequency seekers (PRS) to KONGSBERG for its global Joint Strike Missile (JSM) programs.
The deal was announced by Defence Industry and Capability Minister Pat Conroy during a speech to the National Press Club on 31 October.
“I am pleased to announce that there will be a tripling of production of these sensors being supplied to Kongsberg under a new $160 million contract with BAE Systems,” Mr Conroy said.
“This will provide over 1000 Australian-made sensors for Joint Strike Missiles around the world.
“Additionally, BAE’s contract with the NATO consortium will see a significant increase in Australian components used in the Block 2 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile.”
The announcement comes after the Federal Government said in August that Kongsberg Defence Australia would establish an assembly and manufacturing facility at Williamtown, near Newcastle, for Australian and international customers.
In a big year for KONGSBERG, the similar Naval Strike Missile (NSM) also entered service with the Royal Australian Navy and conducted a successful test firing near Hawaii in July, while the air-launched JSM was selected by the Royal Australian Air Force in September for use aboard its F-35A Lightning II combat aircraft.
The NSM and JSM share some common components but have different airframes, and are designed to attack enemy shipping or fixed targets ashore. The NSM has a range of more than 185 km, while the air-launched JSM can fly more than 350 km to its target.
They both use a multi-mode seeker, one of which is the PRS, which is used to detect and classify target radio and radar emissions.
BAE Systems currently provides PRS to KONGSBERG, but under the new deal will triple current production at its Edinburgh Parks facility to more than 1000 units over the next six years.
The NSMs and JSMs are in service with or have been chosen by Norway, the US, Poland, the Netherlands, the UK, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Malaysia, Spain, Japan and Australia.
BAE Systems Australia managing director of defence delivery Andrew Gresham said the PRS was highly innovative technology designed, developed and built in Australia.
“The passive radio frequency sensor is a world-leading capability and a critical enhancing component of the Joint Strike Missile,” Mr Gresham said.
“This is a significant achievement for our manufacturing teams at Edinburgh Parks and an innovation success story that has required more than a decade of commitment from our employees and our partner KONGSBERG.
“The contract illustrates our company’s focus on investing in research and development and turning the outcomes into real, cutting-edge technology for use on the battlefield.”
BAE said its partnership with KONGSBERG to develop the PRS dated back to 2009 when the two companies conducted a study into electronic warfare applications and products for the JSM.
This was followed by sponsored studies assessing feasibility, power and weight, as well as investment by Australia and the Norwegian Ministry of Defence.
