The Hon. Jason Clare MP
Minister for Defence Materiel.
Minister for Defence Materiel, Jason Clare, announced yesterday the delivery of the 1000th Nulka anti-ship missile decoy to Defence.
Mr Clare said the Nulka decoy is one of the most successful Electronic Warfare projects undertaken in Australia.
“It uses a unique combination of a hovering rocket and electronic warfare technologies to mislead or attract enemy missiles away from the target ship,” said Mr Clare.
“The missile decoy is used by the Royal Australian Navy, the United States Navy and the Canadian Navy.
“There are almost 140 ships protected by Nulka, with plans to increase that number to over 180 ships over the next few years.”
Mr Clare said that this month the 1000th round has been delivered and all have been to schedule, quality and cost.
“Nulka is assembled in Australia from sub-assemblies produced in Australia and the US,” Mr Clare said.
“This milestone is a credit to all those people in industry and Government on both sides of the Pacific who have worked on Nulka.”
Mr Clare thanked BAE Systems Australia, Nulka’s prime contractor, for their efforts in delivering this project.
The Royal Australian Navy has fitted Nulka to the four Adelaide Class guided missile frigates and the eight ANZAC class frigates.
The Air Warfare Destroyer, which will also be assembled in Australia, will be protected by the system.
Nulka remains Australia’s largest regular Defence export.
Media note: Imagery is available at
http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2010/Oct/20101021/index.htm
Media contact: Korena Flanagan – (02) 6277 7620
