(04 Mar 2021)
The Australian government has decided to co-develop a
further three Loyal Wingman aircraft with Boeing.

The agreement will increase the aircraft’s
production capability to six aircraft for Royal Australian Air
Force and is valued at $115 million over three years.

The Loyal Wingman is the first military combat
aircraft to be designed, engineered and manufactured in Australia
in more than 50 years.

“The Australian government’s continued investment
in the innovative Loyal Wingman program will create jobs and
opportunities for over 35 Australian suppliers and small
businesses, including BAE Systems Australia, RUAG Australia, AME
Systems and Ferra Engineering,” said Dr. Brendan Nelson, president
of Boeing Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific.

The contract will support the maturation of the
aircraft design, evolution of current and future payloads, and
create the sustainment system for the aircraft in operations. It
will also advance Airpower Teaming System advanced concepts
through digital testing and demonstration.

“In addition to progressing the air vehicle design
and support system, we will further develop the aircraft’s mission
system including advanced AI decision-making capabilities and new
payloads,” said Dr. Shane Arnott, program director of the Boeing
Airpower Teaming System. “Continued digital engineering and significantly
expanded live testing of the system will provide RAAF and Boeing
with the ability to jointly take the concept to the next level,
activities that are critical for us to rapidly understand how the
Airpower Teaming System can be employed in the future battlespace.”

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