Nulka, Surface Wave Radar Take Out Awards

Nulka, Surface Wave Radar Take Out Prestigious Project Awards

The Defence Materiel Organisation's (DMO) Electronic Systems Division has won both categories of the annual Australian Defence Magazine (ADM) Defence Project of the Year Awards for 2007.

DMO and supplier BAE Systems Australia were successful in the Major project category for the production of Nulka missiles for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the US Navy and the Canadian Navy over a ten-year period.

DMO and its supplier Daronmont Technologies received the award for the Small to Medium Enterterprise (SME) project category with the High Frequency Surface Wave Radar (HSFWR). The leading-edge technology radar was deployed to remote locations north of Australia for a three year trial, then decommissioned in 2007 at which time extensive works were undertaken to restore the sites to their original condition.

The Chief Executive Officer of the DMO, Dr Stephen Gumley, said the ADM awards were a positive way to highlight the great work being undertaken by the DMO and industry.

"These awards recognise the significance of what can be achieved in a very complex environment when DMO and industry work together in a spirit of collaboration, innovation and determination to deliver quality equipment and services for Australia's Defence forces.

"I congratulate the winners and encourage everyone - from both DMO and industry - to strive even harder in 2008 to achieve excellence in their combined efforts," Dr Gumley said.

Congratulating her DMO team and Daronmont Technologies on their win in the SME category, Head of Electronic Systems Division, Ms Shireane McKinnie, said the HSFWR project involved the acquisition, modification, preparation of radar sites and installation, operation and ultimate decommissioning of Australia's first operational High Frequency Surface Wave Radar.

"DMO and Daronmont Technologies triumphed over a number of challenges including the development of leading edge over-the-horizon radar technology including complex inter-government relationships, functioning in extremely remote locations and successfully managing and addressing a range of unique environmental factors and significant indigenous and cultural heritage sensitivities," Ms McKinnie said.

"Nulka has been in continuous production for 10 years, is in operational use by three navies and is Australia's largest regular Defence export earner having grossed around $500m over the past decade."

The winning teams were each awarded a perpetual Essington Lewis Trophy at the ADM Defence Industry Awards Dinner held at the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra last night.

The trophies are named in honour of the remarkable Australian industrialist who mobilised the country's industry for the World War II effort.

ENDS

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