보잉 737 AEW&C 지연보상금 합의, Boeing to Pay $100m for RAAF Wedgetail

 

미국 보잉사가 호주측에 737 Wedgetail AEW&C 인도 지연 보상금 1억 호주달러를 (미화 약 8천9백만불) 지급하기로 했다는

호주 언론의 보도 내용입니다. 11월 26일 호주 공군의 737 Wedgetail AEW&C 인도식 관련 소식을 전한 바 있습니다. --->

 

RAAF 737 Wedgetail 인수식

 

1997년 최초 계약 당시에는 2006년 부터 실전배치를 목표로 하였으나, Wedgetail 의 핵심 장비라 할 수 있는 미국 Northrop

Grumman 사의 MESA 레이더와 BAE Systems 의 ESM 장비와의 연동문제에 심각한 결함이 있어 그 동안 호주 공군에 대한

인도가 3년여 이상 지체되었으며, 향후 실전배치 단계에서도 최초 요구한 성능기준 대비 95% 수준만 만족하는 것으로 밝혀져

이에 대한 책임소재를 놓고 제작사 보잉과 호주 정부간에 많은 이견이 있어왔습니다.

 

이번 기사는 여기에 대해서 보잉사가 호주 정부/공군측에 금전적 보상과 함께 향후 발생되는 기술적 문제들에 대해서 책임을

진다는 내용입니다.

 

동일장비를 앞으로 도입할 예정인 대한민국 정부 및 공군에게도 참고가 되는 기사라 생각되어 소개합니다.

 

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  © Australian DoD

 

Boeing to pay $100m for Wedgetail delays

Patrick Walters, National security editor, The Australian, December 17, 2009

 

BOEING will pay the Australian government tens of millions of dollars in compensation in a final commercial settlement over the late delivery of the RAAF's $4 billion airborne early warning aircraft.

 

After months of bruising negotiations, the two parties agreed last week on a deal that will see Boeing pay the commonwealth both a cash settlement and provide further technical help at no cost to the troubled Wedgetail project.

 

A spokesman for DefenceMinister John Faulkner yesterday declined to reveal the exact sum paid by Boeing in liquidated damages to the commonwealth for failing to meet the delivery timetable and the agreed performance specification for the Wedgetail's complex systems, including its highly advanced phased array radar.

 

But it is understood the payment is about $100 million, making it one of the largest liquidated damages payouts involving a Defence Department contract.

 

Boeing has also spent an estimated $US1.7 billion ($1.9bn) of its own funds trying to fix the glitches in Wedgetail over and above its fixed-price $4bn contract with Defence, but they are already running four years late following a string of developmental problems.

 

Senior Defence officials are now confident Project Wedgetail will achieve at least 95 per cent of its contracted specification, with the radar supplied by Northrop Grumman steadily improving its performance to the point where the air force believes it will deliver a superior capability.

 

The six Wedgetail aircraft will form the mainstay of Australia's new generation of air defence systems, with their radar designed to track huge numbers of targets on air, sea and land simultaneously, including cruise missiles, at ranges of more than 400km.

 

The first two Wedgetails were handed over to the air force last month at RAAF Williamtown near Newcastle but are still several years away from achieving full operational status.

 

Although five of the six aircraft are already in Australia, they still have to be equipped with electronic warfare self-protection kits and their electronic support measures suite, which is due to be installed next year. The sixth Wedgetail has remained in the US for further testing of its radar and other critical systems before it is delivered later next year.

 

Under the agreement, Boeing technicians will continue to help iron out any remaining problems with the aircraft at no cost to the government.

 

Boeing is keen to complete the Wedgetail project with Australia, the first customer for the airborne early warning aircraft that is also eventually expected to enter service with the Korean and Turkish air forces.

 

"We have consistently maintained our commitment to Project Wedgetail and delivering a world-class airborne early warning and control capability to the RAAF," a Boeing spokesman said last night. "We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Australia."