FRA Close to Buying Australia's NJS Group

Asian Aerospace 2000 -- Cobham Plc flight operations subsidiary FR Aviation (FRA) is closing its buy of Australia's National Jet Systems Group for $39.2 million. NJS unit Surveillance Australia (SA) flies maritime surveillance missions under the Australian Customs Service's Coastwatch program.

"This is Cobham's first acquisition in Australia and it opens up a number of exciting opportunities for the group," said Cobham CEO Gordon Page. "This geographical area is seen as strategically important to us and we look forward to the development of the NJS Group in both the commercial and defense markets with confidence."

The buy "fits Cobham's stated strategy of acquiring businesses operating in niche aviation and defense markets," an FRA spokesman concurred. "NJS will provide a major expansion of the Group's flight operations in commercial aerospace and maritime surveillance which compliment FRA's existing expertise and capabilities.

"The Directors of Cobham expect the acquisition to be earnings enhancing immediately," he said. SA currently operates on government contract for 15,000 flying hours per year a fleet of 13 aircraft (plus two on order), including three Dash 8-200MPAs, three Reims F406s, six PBN Islanders and one Shrike Commander.

NJS operates a mixed fleet of 19 BAe 146/ RJ 70s and Dash 8s on behalf of Qantas, as well as dedicated 146 freighters on overnight night services for Australian Air Express. NJS also flies special mission Learjets as fleet support electronic defense trainers for the Australian armed forces, and is involved in corporate and charter operations. The company's engineering services are mainly based at Adelaide, supporting both in-house and customer aircraft.

FRA owns and operates twenty special-mission Dassault Falcon 20s, making it the largest civil fleet of its type in the world-all of which were modified in-house at its Bournemouth, UK base. The aircraft are primarily engaged in the provision of contract air defense training for the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, NATO and other friendly forces.

Training includes threat simulation, electronic warfare and target-towing. The company has been awarded a UK Ministry of Defence preferred supplier, 10-year, £250 million contract to continue these activities. "Subject to FRA's continued satisfactory performance, the contract should extend for a further five years, every five years," said a company spokesman.

An FRA Falcon 20 was operating in Malaysia until recently, providing training for the Malaysian Air Force and, periodically, EW training for the Singapore Air Force. The company has also completed conversion work on two dual-role Jetstream 41s for the Hong Kong Government. They'll be used to evaluate the performance of new equipment and systems for military and defense industry customers.

By Mike Vines

Sidebar

Falcon Sortie

FRA's Falcons are fitted with four underwing pylons which carry special-mission pods housing FAR-designed and built electronics suites. The Falcon's three man crew consists of captain, co-pilot and electronic warfare officer. The EWO is responsible for the various precisely-timed electronic signals emanating from the Falcon and is key to the success of these training missions. Seated in a comfortable leather chair in front of a floor-mounted console, he is the 'disc jockey' or 'special-effects man' of the mission, playing the sounds of incoming missiles, or dispensing chaff to cause confusion to 'hostile' forces on the ground or at sea. His job is to make the 'threat' so realistic that those below will know what to expect if they ever come under real enemy fire.

Aboard one of FRA's Falcons recently, a reporter witnessed the "launch" of an Exocet-like sea-skimming missile attack on a group of eight NATO warships off the southwestern approaches of England. No real missile was used, of course, but with the three man crew of the Falcon plus a BAe Hawk jet trainer flying very close in the radar shadow, it was made to feel very realistic for those naval crews waiting for the war game to start. At 40 miles out from the target, having thus far maintained radio silence, the Falcon captain counted 3-2-1 Go! The Falcon was throttled back slightly to simulate the deceleration from a missile launch-the EWO sent out a simulated homing missile signature, and the Hawk sped away down to mast height towards its pre-assigned target, acting as an incoming missile. According to those at "action stations" aboard the ship, this Exocet/Hawk simulation was about as scary as it gets.