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BAE SYSTEMS supplies World class UAT to the ADF

22 Mar 2001

Strengthening its position as a leading supplier of defence technology, BAE Systems has been awarded an Australian Military Type Certificate by the Australian Defence Force for its Kalkara Unmanned Aerial Target (UAT).

Kalkara, managed by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) provides operational missions for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and RAN is manufactured by the Flight Systems Division of BAE Systems in California, USA. BAE Systems also have responsibility for the complete target system operations & maintenance including all the necessary spares, technical data and engineering support.

The Australian Military Type Certificate is usually reserved for manned aircraft and according to Eddie Oosterweghel, Director of Kalkara Operations, BAE Systems, this is the first time a UAT has been awarded this certificate.

“UATs provide a realistic yet cost-effective training vehicle for defence forces. The Australian version of the MQM 107E has been specifically modified to be deployed for air and sea exercises at Jervis Bay Range Facility (south of Nowra, NSW), Garden Island in Western Australia as well as Woomera” said Mr Oosterweghel.

“Kalkara has undertaken more than 55 successful flights since its first launch 0n 19 June 1998, and we are delighted with the way the system has performed.”

Features of Kalkara, which will be on display outside the BAE Systems stand at the Australian International Air Show, Avalon, include an on-board Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, which provides position data at a one second rate to the ground control station.

“Kalkara provides the ADF with a realistic aerial target for training, research, development, test and evaluation of surface to air (SAM) and air to air (AAM) missile weapon systems” said Mr Oosterweghel.

Issued by Corporate Affairs, BAE Systems Australia.