FED:Aussie troops gain vital warning of attack

AAP General News (Australia)
02-01-2011
FED:Aussie troops gain vital warning of attack

By Max Blenkin, AAP Defence Correspondent

CANBERRA, Feb 1 AAP - Australian troops in Afghanistan will now have extra, possibly
even lifesaving, seconds to seek shelter from Taliban mortar attacks.

A new radar warning system, designed to detect projectiles fired by insurgents then
sound an alert siren, is now operational at the main Australian and coalition base at
Tarin Kowt.

Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare said the system is five months ahead of schedule
and has already provided warning of two Taliban attacks.

It replaces equipment previously provided by the Singapore Armed Forces.

"An extra few seconds can be all the difference between life and death," he told reporters.

The system comprises a leased SAAB Giraffe radar on an extendable mast, a linked command
and control system plus a number of lightweight counter-mortar radars.

Under an $86 million contract with SAAB, defence will eventually buy three Giraffe
systems. Warning systems will be progressively deployed to other patrol bases.

Mr Clare said Australian troops heading into Afghanistan later this year would also
be equipped with new combat body armour.

He said that was being produced by the firm Australian Defence Apparel and was lighter
and more comfortable than older body armour. The 3rd Mentoring Task Force, which heads
into Afghanistan in mid-year, will be issued this new equipment.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith said C-RAM was one of 48 recommendations for better
protection of troops in Afghanistan contained in a force protection review conducted in
2009.

The government gave the go-ahead to these measures at an all-up cost of $1.6 billion.

Mr Smith said 40 recommendations had been either completed or were on track, six were
subject to monitoring and it been decided two would not proceed as they were not technically
feasible at this time.

Opposition defence spokesman David Johnston said Private Greg Sher was killed in a
Taliban rocket attack in 2009 while last year rockets landed on either side of the Tarin
Kowt base.

"It was more a case of good luck than good management that none of our troops were
injured or killed," he said in a statement.

Senator Johnston said he raised the delayed purchase of C-RAM in Senate question time
in August 2009 and the government admitted it wasn't planned for another nine years.

"The acquisition of C-RAM is better late than never and it will perform a vital role
in the safety of our troops but the protracted delay has been completely inexcusable,"

he said.

AAP mb/sb/msk

KEYWORD: AFGHAN AUST MORTAR

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.