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The Australian government is reviewing its possible acquisition of the Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Expeditionary (SURTASS-E) previously approved by the US State Department under a US$207 million foreign military sale last year.
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It’s understood the potential acquisition of the SURTASS-E equipment is subject to review, prioritisation against other Australian Defence Force capabilities and is expected to be discussed in advice presented to the Australian government later this year in light of the 2023 Defence Strategic Review.
The AN/UQQ-2 SURTASS has previously been equipped to ocean surveillance vessels used by the US Navy and Japan Maritime Self Defence Force. It utilises a passive towed array and a low-frequency active sonar for undersea surveillance.
“Defence is considering the acquisition of the SURTASS-E alongside a number of other undersea surveillance capabilities,” a Defence spokesperson said.
The Australian government requested to buy SURTASS-E mission systems for vessels of opportunity, a shore processing mission system, a spare SURTASS passive acoustic array, containers, communications parts and support equipment, software, publications, training, US government and contractor engineering support, other related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated total cost of US$207 million in May 2023.
A statement from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced that required certification of the possible sale had been notified to US Congress on 4 May last year.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States. Australia is one of our most important allies in the western Pacific. The strategic location of this political and economic power contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in the region. It is vital to the US national interest to assist our ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defence capability,” the DSCA said.
“The proposed sale will improve Australia’s capability to meet current and future maritime threats by providing tactical platforms with the detection and cueing of enemy submarines. The ability to provide acoustic wide area surveillance and generate indications and warnings to Australian commands will significantly improve shared maritime security. Australia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.”
At that time, Lockheed Martin-Syracuse and Lockheed Martin-Manassas were detailed under the statement as the principal contractors, and it was outlined that the proposed sale would require US government personnel and US contractor representatives to visit Australia on a temporary basis.
The possible sale through the US Foreign Military Sales program is expected to provide Defence with an avenue to acquire and sustain interoperable capability with the US, speed up capability introduction, strengthen defence and political ties and achieve operational capability similar to those already in operation in the US.
