Australian C-RAM funded for future ops

Australia has given first pass and second pass approval for the LAND 19 Phase 7A project for Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar System (C-RAM) sense-and-warn capability. The Australian Department of Defense announced the development on 26 June.

The C-RAM system detects and provides early warnings of incoming and indirect fire threats. This capability was first acquired by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in 2010 for its operations in Afghanistan.

The system has seen considerable success at ADF's forward operating and patrol bases in Afghanistan, including Multi-National Base Tarin Kowt and a number of patrol bases in Uruzgan province, detecting mortar, artillery and rocket threats and providing early warnings to Australian and coalition troops.

The LAND 19 Phase 7A project's approval will see around $251.29 million provided for sustaining C-RAM capabilities for future operations.

Saab Systems Australia is the preferred tenderer for the project and is currently in negotiations with the Australian government for the system's through life support. The contract will be finalised in September 2015.