The project with the longest delays, the army’s MRH90 helicopters, were running 95 months over schedule, the ANAO found. Mr Dutton axed that project last week in favour of buying off-the-shelf Blackhawk and Seahawk helicopters from the United States.
The remotely piloted Triton maritime surveillance drone is 66 months late, although this schedule has been affected in part by the US government imposing a two-year pause on production. Australia has committed to three Tritons out of a possible six or seven.
Another air force project running late is the C-27J Spartan aircraft, purchased as a replacement for the RAAF’s small Caribou cargo planes. The Spartan is 54 months late, with one of its problems being that it lacked self-protection systems when flying into battlefields.
The RAAF in July decided to cut its losses trying to make the aircraft safe for warzones, and will restrict it to just conducting disaster relief missions, such as flying in supplies.
The troubled civil and military air traffic control system known as OneSKY is 46 months late. The system was initially expected to be operational by June last year, but has been pushed to beyond June next year.
Officials last year expected it to be fully operational by April 2026 but the ANAO now says the date is to be advised.
The audit report does not factor in the subsequent termination of the $90 billion French-designed submarine project, nor the 18-month delay granted to the $45 billion future frigate program.
Opposition defence spokesman Brendan O’Connor said the combined delays of more than 33 years reflected poorly on a “revolving door” of defence ministers.
“This means Australian Defence Force personnel are not getting the equipment and platforms they need to do their jobs and Australia is facing capability gaps with national security implications,” he said.
www.afr.com
