Tuesday, 22 July 2003 97/2003

UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES DEPLOYING TO SOLOMONS

The Australian Defence Force will deploy for the first time on
operations four Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) as part of the regional
assistance mission to the Solomon Islands, Defence Minister Robert Hill
announced today.

"This is the first deployment of an unmanned aerial vehicle on
operations by the Australian Defence Force," Senator Hill said.

"It represents a significant advance in the development of our network
centric warfare capabilities."

Senator Hill said the Australian designed and built Aerosonde aircraft,
operated by SAAB Australia, would be equipped with day and night sensors
and communications equipment.

They will be capable of conducting surveillance of the Solomon Islands
remote areas and coastlines, providing images to military personnel on
the ground and headquarters staff.

"Incorporating this new technology in the regional assistance will give
the ADF an edge in its support to police assisting the Solomon Islands
Government to restore law and order," Senator Hill said.

"Soldiers and their commanders will have real-time information about
potential risks for the police."

The aircraft are part of a developmental program, Project Nervana, being
run by the DSTO. The project is looking at many aspects of automating
the battlefield. This includes the examination of how images from the
UAVs can be distributed to commanders on the ground, providing a real
time surveillance capability.

The detachment will be commanded by 131 Surveillance and Target
Acquisition (131 STA) Battery which has responsibility for developing
Army's UAV procedures. The UAVs will be operated and supported by Army
scientists, engineers and other support personnel as well as Defence
Scientists from DSTO.