Background & Overview

The RAAF’s 114 Mobile Control & Reporting Unit (MCRU) has recently returned from a very successful tour in Afghanistan, based at Kandahar Airfield with the mission to provide air battle space management throughout that area of operations.  Following its’ 2 year deployment in Afghanistan and previous tours in East Timor the unit has been handed to Daronmont for much needed mechanical repairs to the cabins as well as major updates to the data processing, display and voice switching systems. 

Daronmont won the MCRC Reconstitution contract via competitive tender organised by the Ground Telecommunication Equipment Systems Program Office (GTE SPO) within DMO with the $15m + ASDEFCON contract awarded in December 2009.  The project was completed on scheduled in early 2011 and delivered to the RAAF at 114MCRU Darwin.

Prior to the MCRC contract Daronmont refurbished the Mobile Operations Centre (MOC) cabins in a 10 month contract with GTE SPO.  Daronmont has also supplied three new Operations cabins and a TADIL cabin under a previous contact to GTESPO.  The fit-out of these cabins is being undertaken in the MCRC contract.

Daronmont has established a first class Australian industry team to deliver the project including BAE Systems, C4i, SAGE Automation and many niche service providers with the majority of the work being undertaken at Daronmont’s Adelaide facility.

The contract encompasses cabin refurbishment, replacement of the voice switching system, replacing the data processing systems, console and display replacement, refurbishment of existing subsystems and system integration.

Project Scope

Daronmont is undertaking the Prime Systems Integrator role in the project with Defence prime BAE Systems refurbishing the Communications Cabin and delivering the ILS aspects of the refurbishment project as a subcontractor to SME Daronmont. C4i are supplying a full IP based voice switching system replacing the obsolete system currently fitted. SAGE Automation is taking the three new Operations and TADIL cabins and undertaking the mechanical and electrical fit prior to installation of the new electronic systems.

Daronmont will update the data processing and display system and refurbish the remaining cabins (Mobile Surveillance Cabin and Tactical Interface Cabin) as well as providing overall prime system integration and project and engineering management for the MCRC.   Daronmont will also be significantly redesigning the internal layout of the Operations Cabins in consultation with RAAF air defence operators to reflect the lessons learnt on deployment in Afghanistan.

Capabilities Demonstrated

• Project Management: ASDEFCON style contract expertise with significant formal reviews and data requirements including subcontract management aspects for Voice Switch System subcontract with C4i and Communications Cabin / ILS subcontract with BAE Systems.

• System Engineering: Overall MCRC systems engineering activities undertaken by Daronmont to specify, develop / modify, integrate, test and verify the reconstituted MCRC Mission and Support Systems.  

• Electronic Systems engineering: Development of new subsystems and components and integration of existing electronic systems into the MCRC system.  New components required to interface to radios and communication equipment.

• Mechanical engineering: Design and development of mechanical design for cabin fit-out and components.
  

• Sustainment engineering: Analysis of existing systems and components and re-engineering within the constraints of the MCRC.

• Prime System Integration: Specification of and integration of new and existing subsystems into the MCRC.

• Software Systems engineering: Development of a hardware and software upgrade to the data processing and display subsystem to meet the MCRC requirements.

• Verification & Validation: Verification and validation activities undertaken with respect to development, supply and support of hardware, software, configuration data and associated drawings and documentation for the MCRC.

• Support System engineering: ILS program to address and supply the support system including operating, engineering, maintenance, supply and training support. 

“This project provides an exciting opportunity for our engineers and our partners to contribute to an important operational ADF capability and we are very focussed on getting this project on line on time and within budget.  The GTESPO team within DMO has worked hard to build a relationship with industry based on trust and commitment to the operational end user.”

Ben Norris, Daronmont Technologies CEO