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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles will Launch in September |
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Tuesday, 23 May 2006 |
 Mariner UAV
The proposed trial was a commitment made by the Australian Government
in its 2004 election policy Securing Australia's North West Shelf.
"The North West Shelf region is of vital strategic and economic
interest to Australia and enhancing existing security in this area is a
priority for the government. Criminal activities such as illegal
fishing, drug running and people smuggling must be stopped,"
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Senator Sandy
Macdonald announced today.
Senator Macdonald said the trial will assess the potential of UAVs to
operate under a joint, integrated surveillance capability with the
Navy's Armidale Class Patrol Boats to provide an additional layer of
surveillance in Australia's approaches.
The trial is being led by the Defence Science & Technology
Organisation (DSTO) in collaboration with the Navy, RAAF, Army and
other areas of Defence, as well as the Joint Offshore Protection
Command (a partnership between Defence and the Australian Customs
Service).
US company General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) will be
jointly conducting the trial with Defence. A UAV system, made by the
company, will serve as the aerial platform for the trial.
Conducted over 30 days, including a flying period of 14 days, the trial
will start with three test flights out of RAAF Edinburgh near Adelaide,
followed by four missions from RAAF Learmonth on the north west coast
of Western Australia. RAAF Edinburgh will also be the primary mission
control site while the UAV is airborne.
Contracts were signed in March with both US companies, paving the way
for the trial to proceed during the month of September. The UAV being
used has been modified specifically for the purposes of the Australian
trial. It will carry only sensor and communications equipment suitable
for maritime surveillance missions.
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