Boeing has announced that its ‘Vigilare’ network centric command and control system has completed its last formal operational test at RAAF Williamtown’s Eastern Region Operations Centre (EROC), taking part in Exercise Aces South.
The testing, which was performed between March 28 and April 8, confirmed that EROC was ready for operations using the Vigilare system, in preparation for conditional acceptance this month. Vigilare’s second week of operational testing was also incorporated into Exercise Aces South, an important combat exercise for pilots and air defence operators studying to become advanced fighter tactics instructors and controllers. The exercise involved F/A-18 classic Hornets, F/A-18F Super Hornets, Wedgetail AEW&C, P-3 Orions and several other aircraft, with Vigilare’s operational test proving the last milestone before it is granted final system acceptance by Australia.
“Exercise Aces South provided an excellent opportunity to put the newly installed Vigilare system at EROC through its paces. We threw our best and brightest people into the exercise, and they worked the new system extremely hard through some complex and intense air battle scenarios,” Officer Temporary Commanding 41 Wing, Wing Commander Richard Pizzuto said.
Boeing Defence Australia Vigilare project manager, Lee Davis, said the system “demonstrated a new level of network centric capability for the RAAF by networking a broad range of RAAF assets into the battlespace through EROC”.
“RAAF operators’ situational awareness was enhanced by their ability to connect to Vigilare’s advanced surveillance and tactical management capabilities,” Davis said.
