Modelling > The Snoops, Sensors, Spooks, & Spies GB

RAAF Project Wairi

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apophenia:
Tophe suggested this ... so all blame rests with him  ;)

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Eyes in the Skies - The RAAF's Counter-IED  Project Wairi

During an early 2004 review of Australian operations in Iraq, ADF planners concluded that any future 'asymmetric warfare' would require much improved counter-IED capabilities. To that end, the RAAF began experimenting with aerial C-IED platforms.

The popular ISR King Air was assessed as lacking growth potential (for both future sensor additions and extra sensor operator's workstations). The larger Bombardier Dash 8, it was decided, was a better fit.

Phase 1 of Project Wairi ('Sky God') comprised sensor tests by a loaned Dash 8 200 from  Coastwatch -- using its Wescam 16DS EO/IR turret and Raytheon APS-134A search radar over land for the first time. Phase 1 confirmed the choice of Western Australia's Great Sandy Desert as a stand-in for overseas operations in arid regions. But the Coastwatch sensor suite was judged inadequate for counter-IED ops.

[More to come ...]

apophenia:
Phase 2 of Project Wairi was run with greater urgency as ADF troops were scheduled to return to Iraq in 2005. For Phase 2, the Tenix LADS (Laser Airborne Depth Souding) Dash 8 was loaned to the RAAF by the RAN's Australian Hydrographic Service.

Surveillance Australia Pty of Adelaide adapted the LADS aircraft to its interim counter-IED role role. Removable stub-wing pylons were added to the fuselage sides to carry C-IED sensor pods (Boeing Australia based these pods on the Hornet's recce pack). Twin Wescam MX-10 EO/IR turrets were mounted on either side of the cockpit.

This sensor combination was 'draggier' than expected. More importantly, the CCD cameras proved more difficult for sensor operators to integrate. A revised sensor installation was begun. This involved an extended nose cone holding the infrared line scanner which would be matched with twin EO/IR turrets moved aft to the stub wings. This solved part of the drag problem but integration remained an issue.

Perhaps in an attempt to cloak its C-IED trials, test aircraft were given intentionally misleading RAAF serials. Although never marked, reports on the Coastwatch Q200 referred to 'A24-001' while the LADS loaner was 'A24-002'. The latter (also code-named 'Baiame' or 'Creator Sky God') showed promise but was to be eclipsed by an offer from the US.

[More to come ...]

Tophe:
Thanks! :-*

Buzzbomb:
Pretty much.. why not.

Kerick:
By counter-IED capabilities did you mean finding IEDs or flying down a route broadcasting a signal to set them off? I suspect the former but the later would be something to see!

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