Australian MoD announced today that Australia’s air capability has been further enhanced by the successful trialling of a new radar warning receiver and acceptance by Air Force of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) ‘Smart Bomb’.

The first production configured F/A-18 Hornet fitted with a new Radar Warning Receiver has successfully flown at RAAF Williamtown, only 18 months after the decision to acquire the equipment.

As part of the Hornet upgrade program, Australia’s fleet of F/A-18 aircraft are being fitted with Raytheon ALR-67(V)3 Radar Warning Receiver, countermeasures systems and radar jamming systems.

Earlier this year the Royal Australian Air Force accepted the Operational and Technical Airworthiness of the JDAM ‘smart-bomb’ on F/A-18A/B fighter aircraft.

The JDAM ‘smart-bomb’ provides RAAF F/A-18A/B fighters with a state-of-the-art weapon capability, allowing them to accurately employ air-to-ground weapons during day or night and in all weather conditions through the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.

During the 18 months since approval, the project acquired the Radar Warning Systems, completed the design, integration and testing required to install and operate the new system on the Hornet. The project is within budget and on-track to deliver the complete electronic warfare self protection upgrade to the entire Hornet fleet by late 2012.