The Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) has delivered battle-space awareness capability to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
CASG also delivered enhanced force protection, along with battle-space awareness, to the ADF and its coalition partners.
It handed over sensitive overhead persistent infrared (OPIR) comprising an Australian Mission Processor, which employs the US Air Force-derived space-based infrared satellite data to detect infrared events in Australia’s area of interest.
CASG Wide Area & Space Surveillance Systems Program Office (WASS SPO), along with the Defence Space Coordinating Office (DSCO) have developed, procured and integrated a mission system that is capable of processing OPIR data from US satellites.
The OPIR data is being processed as part of Joint Project (JP) 2057 Phase III.
JP 2057 Phase III project manager squadron leader David Woerner said: “The project first began as a capability demonstrator for Air Force’s Number One Remote Sensor Unit (1RSU) and the Defence Science and Technology Group in Phase One, before progressing to an interim operational capability in Phase II.
“Phase III then produced the full operational system, allowing the RAAF to interpret, analyse and disseminate infrared events in real time to the Australian war fighter.”
The OPIR capability will be operated by 1RSU at RAAF Base Edinburgh and the capability will be managed by the capability manager at the DSCO in Air Force Headquarters.
CASG purchases and maintains military equipment and supplies to meet ADF requirements.
