By Parker McKenzie
A Ferntree Gully-based business has been awarded a $3.4 million contract with the US Navy, to deliver work stands for safe access to P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol aircraft.
The deal will see the delivery of 22 wide-band satellite telecommunications system work stands by AirFab Ground Support Equipment, which allow technicians to access the P-8A wide-band satellite communication station and safely conduct fuselage inspections.
AirFab owner Michael Millsteed said the deal has been a few years in the making after working with the Royal Australia Air Force in the past.
“We had built up a relationship and were able to work with them on a problem they had. We had a solution already from other projects which we could adapt,” Mr Millsteed said.
“The US Navy’s always back and forth, and they were here. It gave them the chance to have a look and go, gee, you guys make some cool stuff.”
The US Navy currently has 98 P-8As in service, with 11 more of the aircraft ordered in April 2021.
Mr Millsteed said the deal was struck through the RAAF, who are “always good to deal with.”
“We find that it’s the process you’ve got to go through, it can be time consuming,” he said.
“We’re very specialized. We’ve been around for 30 plus years and making equipment for the airline industry all that time; we’ve been doing work for the Australian Defence Force for probably 25 years.”
The P-8A aircraft were announced to be replacing the Lockheed AP-3C Orions in the Royal Australia Air force in 2007. The first P-8A aircraft was delivered by September 2016, with 12 in total being delivered by December 2019. The RAAF currently have two more of the aircraft on order.
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the contract demonstrated the export opportunities Australia’s defence industry was receiving because of cooperation between the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the United States Navy.
“These work stands are designed to withstand harsh environments like those experienced at forward operating bases, and have integrated safety features to protect personnel,” Minister Price said.
“AirFab developed the work stand design in partnership with the Royal Australian Air Force and the US Navy to meet the unique requirements of the P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol aircraft,
“Working with Royal Australian Air Force gave AirFab direct engagement with the US Navy that an Australian small business would not normally have had access to.”
The P-8A, which can seat up to seven people during a mission, is 39.47m long and has a wingspan of 37.64m. It has a maximum speed of 907km/h and has a flying ceiling of 12,496m high. It is equipped with a variety of hardware and armaments suitable for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, including torpedoes and harpoon anti-ship missiles.
In addition to the stands supplied to the US Navy, AirFab is also manufacturing eight work stands for the 12 P-8A Poseidon Maritime patrol aircraft in the RAAF fleet.
Mr Millsteed said other opportunities might arise internationally because of the deal.
“We’ve been asked at the moment by New Zealand, they are going to get some P-8As to replace the Orions as well,” he said.
“There may be other opportunities out there, but they’re things in the background.”
