A$115 Million Contract Increases Build to Six Aircraft
Boeing Australia and the Australian government are to co-develop a further three LOYAL WINGMAN aircraft to advance the air-teaming vehicle, payloads and associated support and training capabilities.
The three-year, A$115 million (€75 million) agreement will increase to six the number of aircraft for the RAAF. The LOYAL WINGMAN is the first military combat aircraft to be designed, engineered and manufactured in Australia in over 50 years.
“The Australian government’s continued investment in the innovative LOYAL WINGMAN programme will create jobs and opportunities for over 35 Australian suppliers and small businesses, including BAE Systems Australia, RUAG Australia, AME Systems and Ferra Engineering,” observed Dr Brendan Nelson, President of Boeing Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific.
The contract will support maturation of aircraft design, evolution of current and future payloads, and create an operational sustainment system. It will also advance Airpower Teaming System advanced concepts through digital testing and demonstration.
“In addition to progressing the air vehicle design and support system, we will further develop the aircraft’s mission system, including advanced AI decision-making capabilities and new payloads,” explained Dr Shane Arnott, Programme Director of the Boeing Airpower Teaming System. “Continued digital engineering and significantly expanded live testing of the system will provide [the] RAAF and Boeing with the ability to jointly take the concept to the next level, activities that are critical for us to rapidly understand how the Airpower Teaming System can be employed in the future battlespace.”