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Aviation History
2000
2000 - 1545.PDF
NEWS ANALYSIS Spies over the Pacific Details have come to light of Australia's project to equip aircraft for intelligence-gathering missions against Indonesia PETER LA FRANCHI/CANBERRA AUSTRALIA'S SECRET con version of two of Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft to operate as air borne signals intelligence gather ers is part of a major upgrade of eavesdropping systems that have cost the country atleastA$300 mil lion (Si75 million) over the past eight years. The two signals intelligence aircraft, designated EP-3Cs, form a central element of ongoing listen ing operations against Indonesia and have carried out crucial inter ceptions of Indonesian armed forces (TNI) communications over die past 12 months. Details of the operation were exclusively revealed by Flight International last week. The aircraft are a major focus of ongoing Indonesian allegations that Australia is continuing to carry out what it terms "black flights" over its territory. Given the tech nology carried by the two aircraft, however, it is unlikely that incur sion into Indonesian airspace would be required to carry out intelligence-gathering operations. ONGOING PROGRAMME The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) EP-3Cs were modified between 1995 and 1997 under an ongoing programme known as both Project Air 5384 and Project Peacemate. The prime contractor was the former E-Systems, now part of Raytheon, and the xMelbourne-based Hawker de Havilland, now part of die Tenix Group. The aircraft were certifi cated in late 1997. The EP-3Cs are normally based at RAAF Amberley, near Brisbane, but were redeployed early last year to RAAF Tindal in the Northern Territory to monitor TNI tactical communications in and around East and West Timor. During operational missions, the EP-3Cs have a combined crew of RAAF and Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) personnel. The mission systems can intercept a wide range of communications, including digital mobile tele phones, as well as localising and identifying emitters such as air- defence radars and electronic jam ming equipment. The original specifications for the two aircraft were developed by the DSD between 1991 and 1993 as Project Peacemate Phase 1. The actual modification programme, designated Peacemate Phase 2, are believed to have received funding approvals from the former Labour Federal Government in either the 1994 or 1995 defence budget. Top-up funds for the upgrade were provided in the 1996/7 budget. Most of the mission systems fit ted under Phase 2 were acquired through the US Foreign Military Sales programme. The secret Australian project was directly linked to an upgrade then being carried out by the US Navy of its EP-3E signals intelligence aircraft to what is now known as the Aries-II configuration. The aircraft also carry a number of Australian-unique signals pro cessing software packages devel oped by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation. The aircraft may also carry a high- power optical surveillance system. Peacemate Phase 3 saw tenders released in May 1998 for the pur chase of a satellite communications system to enable relaying of signals data back to Defence Signals Directorate processing centres in Canberra and Geraldton via the existing DEFAUSSAT satellite communications network. A current phase of Project Peacemate involves installing a limited signals interception capa bility on RAAF Lockheed Martin C- BOH Hercules transports. Four aircraft have been modified in par allel with an upgrade of electronic warfare self-protection (EWSP) suites by Tenix Defence Systems. The fourth aircraft was returned to operational service in the past two months, with the last eight aircraft expected to have similar modifica tions later this year, again under the cover of an EWSP upgrade. SIMILAR UPGRADE The RAAF may also be consider ing including a suite similar to that fitted to the C-130Hs to the rest of its P- 3 C fleet as part of the ongoing Project Air 5276 upgrade. Peacemate is managed by Australia's Defence Acquisition Organisation, DSD, and Can berra-based Prologue Consulting. According to one Australian Defence intelligence source, the TNI has suspected the existence of the two aircraft for well over a year. The intensity of intelligence operations carried out against the TNI during the first eight months of 1999 saw the Australian Department of Defence request in early September that the USN provide one of its Lockheed Martin EP-3E Aries II aircraft to support the Australian-led Inter national Force East Timor (INTERFET) deployment. On 16 September, the US Department of Defense announced it would deploy an intelligence aircraft to Australia as part of its INTERFET contribu tion with a USN Aries II and a 40- person signals analysis team arriving at RAAF Base Tindal three days later. The aircraft, normally based in Japan, began operations on 21 September. The RAAF used die arrival of USN aircraft to carry out urgently needed maintenance work on its own two aircraft. The Peacemate project has been paralleled by a major upgrade of a land-based signals intelligence facility located at Shoal Bay in the Northern Territory under a classi fied programme known both as Project 333 and Project Neptune. Project 333 was one of two classi fied signals intelligence projects receiving government funding approvals in the 1996 defence bud get. The second, still shrouded in secrecy, is known- as both Defence Project 888 and Project Haybox. Companies involved in the Project 333 upgrade included Perth-based Clough Engineering, Sydney Engineering (Sales), the University of Newcastle's TUNRA business unit, and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. BAE Systems Australia holds a commercial support contract to carry out signals analysis. The Project 333 system provides a strategic level of signals intelli gence gathering against HF radio communications and satellite com munications. The system can also localise signal sources for investiga tion by the twoEP-3Cs. • Modification of two P-3s is the centrepiece for an Australian intelligence programme 30 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 16 - 22 May 2000
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