The Department of Defence will hold an industry briefing for Australia’s biggest contractors at Tindal RAAF Base next week.
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The briefing follows the official launch of the $870 million tender to upgrade the base.
The building program will continue the current work to prepare for the F-35A Joint Strike Fighters and the KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport.
It will also improve the runway to accept bigger US military aircraft.
Tindal’s runway will be built to accept the the KC-30A which is able to transfer more than 100 tonnes of fuel to Air Force’s F/A-18A/B Hornets, F/A-18F Super Hornets, and when fully operational refuel E-7A Wedgetail, C-17A Globemaster III and other KC-30As.
It will be compatible with refuelling the P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft and F-35A Lightning II when these aircraft enter service.
The tenders involve “Project R8099” which is RAAF Base Tindal Redevelopment Stage 6 and “Project R8109” United States Force Posture Initiatives (USFPI) RAAF Base Tindal Airfield Works and Associated Infrastructure.
The Enhanced Air Cooperation initiative will allow increased rotations of US air elements through northern Australia.
The first EAC activity was in February at Tindal involving 12 US Air Force F-22 Raptors conducting combined training with the 75 Squadron’s F/A 18A/B Hornets.
Defence wants to select one managing contractor, as it has done with LendLease, to deliver the tenders.
Defence said the objective of Project R8099 was to maintain the capability of the base.
- a. providing the Base infrastructure and trunk engineering services necessary to support the growth in demand from expansion in Base activities;
- b. replacing facilities or equipment at the end of their useful and economic life, which no longer perform to the required specification;
- c. reducing ongoing maintenance costs, by installing more efficient or modern infrastructure;
- d. addressing deficiencies in current operational reliability requirements;
- e. improving personnel comfort and morale, this is particularly important at RAAF Base Tindal due to its remote location, and hot and humid climate;
- f. providing a safer work environment, overcoming a number of Work Health and Safety risks; and
- g. contributing to improved compliance with relevant Australian and Defence Standards.
- Additional living-in accommodation to support deployed AEW&C personnel will also be delivered by the project.
The objective of Project KC-30A Facilities Project is to increase the capacity for the KC-30A Multi Role Transport Tanker operating from RAAF Base Tindal.
“The upgrade to airfield and associated infrastructure enables the platform to operate effectively and efficiently,” tender documents state.
“The improved airfield infrastructure delivered by the KC-30A Facilities Project will also serve to support the Enhanced Air Cooperation by improving accessibility of United States Air Force aircraft to the Base.
“The solution to the objective will aim to increase Runway 14/32 length, width, shoulders and strength. In addition a realignment and upgrade of Taxiway A, a new air movement terminal, new aircraft apron, new fuel farm and associated other infrastructure services is to be provided to efficiently operate KC-30A in addition to the existing use by 75SQN and other transiting aircraft.”
Chris McLennan
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
