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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 2100.PDF
FLIGHT International, 28 November 1963 901 Missiles and Spaceflight Victor 8.2 carrying Blue Steel missile in trials over the Woomera range. Oper ated by No 4 Joint Services Trials Unit, these aircraft are based at Edinburgh Field, adjacent to the Weapons Research Establishment, Salisbury WOOMERA 1963 2: Work of the Weapons Research Establishment BY KENNETH OWEN THE recent Press visit to the Woomera rocket range, described briefly last week, included one day at the Weapons Research Establishment, Salisbury. This article outlines the history of the establishment, the work of the missile and electronics companies based there, and the WRE system for processing the data obtained in the Woomera firings. A separate article in a future issue will describe the Skylark programme of upper-atmosphere research; most of the other aspects of the establishment's work were not made known to the UK Press group on this occasion. As part of its programme of guided-weapons research and development, the United Kingdom Government approached the Australian Government in 1946 with proposals to set up an experi mental missile testing range across central Australia. These d|scussions led to an agreement to establish in Australia research and development facilities for rocket-propelled weapons and, in iq<tlCular' a ^uuy equipped guided weapons testing range. In 47 the Long Range Weapons Establishment began operations at Salisbury, near Adelaide, South Australia, with the object of uiidirtg and operating a range starting from Woomera, 300 miles north-west of Adelaide, and extending 1,250 miles across central A"straiia to the coast. From the engagement of scientific staff for this establishment few the concept of an Australian Defence Scientific Service. This service grew to embrace, in addition to the Long Range Weapons t . =>•-" ••" uituiaw, ill auuuiun lu iiic l^uug xvcuigc vrcaj/uiia s ablishment, the Defence Standards Laboratories (previously na° Wn as the Munitions Supply Laboratories), and the Aero- Uticai Research Laboratories (previously the Division of Aero- Irucf5 °f the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research). and n *C ^ustrauan Department of Supply set up a Research development Branch to direct these three establishments. br0 (TaS decided m 1949 t0 set UP further laboratories to give a otn background for the guided-weapons work and to cover r aspects of defence science. Some of the activities of the - °nautical Research Laboratories were transferred to a High Speed Aerodynamics Laboratory at Salisbury; a Propulsion Research Laboratory was established to work on rocket motors; and an Electronics Research Laboratory was also set up. As these laboratories developed, and as the requirements for trials at Woomera became more specific, the overall organization was modified. In January 1955, as part of a reorganization of the Research and Development Branch, all the establishments and laboratories in South Australia were amalgamated to form the Weapons Research Establishment. This is now one of three Defence Establishments belonging to the Department of Supply's Research and Development Branch, the other two being the Aeronautical Research Laboratories in Melbourne and the Defence Standards Laboratory in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. The object of the UK/Australian "joint project" was to set up and operate as a joint undertaking an experimental range and sup porting equipment for the testing and development of guided weapons, pilotless aircraft and air-launched equipment, including radio and radar control and countermeasures, and other projects. Australia was to provide the range and its associated facilities, development facilities, and production capacity both in Government factories and civilian firms. Nerve-centre for the work surrounding the joint project is the Weapons Research Establishment, converted from a wartime munitions factory and covering an area of about six square miles some 15 miles north of Adelaide. As indicated in the accompanying plan of the establishment, Edinburgh Airfield adjoins the laboratory areas. Facilities are also provided in the contractors' area of WRE for UK firms requiring premises at Salisbury. The organization of the scientific and technical divisions at WRE is illustrated in the accompanying chart (page 903). Most of the work under the joint agreement is carried out in the Trials and Space Physics Wings, with the Trials Division responsible for operating the range at Woomera and planning and carrying out all trials. [Continued overleaf
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