RNZAF sign Orion software contract with Beca

The Royal New Zealand Air Force has signed a five year contract with international engineering consultancy firm Beca Applied Technology.

The contract will provide the RNZAF with a wide range of software engineering services as part of the P-3K2 Orion surveillance aircraft upgrade project. These software services will enable the RNZAF to maintain its software on the six upgraded P-3K2 Orion aircraft well into the future.

“This is an important contract for the RNZAF. The upgraded P-3K2 Orions will be a highly capable asset employing a variety of high technology sensor systems to undertake its mission as surveillance aircraft, said Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott.

The new Data Management System (DMS) will control all the major functions of the aircraft's mission systems; from sensor control through to the way personnel can use and display the information.

“The DMS and associated software will see the Orions using technology that is cutting edge and that will be more adaptable to the ongoing needs of the Air Force and Government,” said AVM Lintott.

“Equally as important is the nature of the relationship we wish to build with Beca. It should develop into a true partnership which provides both of us with flexibility without compromising either organisation’s goals. Perhaps in time we will even deploy on operations with BAT people integrated into our support team,” AMV Lintott said.

“The newly established Integrated Mission Support Squadron (IMSS) and Beca will work together on the unique RNZAF P-3K2 platform providing highly technical software engineering and support to the new capability. This contract and the ongoing work, highlight a closer working relationship between the RNZAF and commercial sector.

“The work that will be conducted by Beca will be very complex and opens significant opportunities for New Zealand in the domain of Information Systems and Data Management Systems associated with military platforms,” said AVM Lintott.