RAAF Project Wairi - Phase 3
Surveillance Australia's work on the LADS loaner caught the attention of the US firm, SAIC, which was working on a similar, Dash 8-based counter-IED platform. SAIC's work on sensor integration was further along in maturity than the 'Baiame' demonstrator and a US-Australian collaboration was suggested.
Once agreements were in place, SurvAus began modifying DHC-8-103 VH-JSJ (c/n 170) to SAIC C-IED standards. This ex-National Jet Systems Q100 was testflown from Adelaide Airport in late 2006. As initially flown, the EO/IR sensors fitted were a trio of Wescam MX-15s. These were later replaced with larger, more capable MX-20 turrets.
The newly modified SAIC-style Dash 8 -- still stripped of paintwork -- was rushed to RAAF Learmonth for trials in January 2007. With the aerial C-IED concept proven, the Dash 8 returned to Adelaide for a trip to the paint shed. By this time, ADF planning emphasis had shifted to Operation Slipper. The repainted Dash 8, as A24-170, left for Afghanistan in late April 2007.
(Top) Dash 8 A24-170 as originally flown (3 x Wescam MX-15 EO/IRs).
(Bottom) A24-170 in modified form (3 x Wescam MX-20SW EO/IRs).
[More to come ...]