Australian Defence has declared initial operating capability (IOC) with the Wedgetail aircraft, so says this this press release.
"The Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Wedgetail aircraft has achieved Initial Operational Capability,..."
But is it true?
One of the anonymous Internet mind-guards who help to push the message of various tribal elements within the Entrenched Defence Bureaucracy isn't so sure:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gordon Branch
Did anyone else notice the that The E-7 Wedgetail has achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC)?
Depends on how the Proj defined IOC. There is no standard definition and my understanding is that there is still a fair way to go.
Sometimes there is confusion because the Proj may meet "Interim" rarther than "Initial"
the former is a compromise used to get the platform up and about but still work towards meeting OC
All in all, I'm suggesting that the claim about meeting real world IOC may not be so as the press release claims
In fact I know its not so.
Is the Wedgetail ready for IOC? I don't know. I do know that it was delayed for years; and was looking at shooting for a 90 percent capability of the original expectation after experiencing technology problems.
The root cause of Wedgetail problems appeared where they do in many ill-conceived projects: in the beginning. Numerous identified risks were waved away by the program leadership as being workable. Later when those identified risks evolved into show-stopping problems, the Wedgetail became a project management object lesson.
So, either the Defence Minister's office, the DMO and RAAF are wrong and trying to push an alleged success story where none exists or the anonymous mind-guards are wrong.
This has the potential to be a worthy topic of interest at the next Senate Estimates get-together.
I am curious how the Minister's office will address this gross difference in communication?
15 comments:
Is using your real name in a handle how you define "anonymous" now is it, Eric?
Gary Fairlie's real name is what? Go on, guess!
That's right. It's Gary Fairlie. As Horde can attest.
Yes, Gary ventured a different opinion to the corporate line about the readiness or otherwise of Wedgetail. Goodness me, weren't you asking for moral courage from leaders in defence a while back?
1. Uses real name.
2. Ventures opinions different than the corporate line under said real name.
Isn't that exactly what you've asked for?
Nice try. One can guess if one does extensive searching but for years that handle has been an unconfirmed match to a name. You may know it. And some others may know it...and to tell the truth, I have never searched for his name. For how long it is been anonymous. Why don't you take that up with Horde?
But what is funny is that another mind-guard for various tribes in the entrenched defence bureaucracy (Bonza et al) is also freely defending wasteful defence incompetence.
What makes this all interesting is that an alleged Defence or defence connected employee (well now THAT is always what is inferred) is saying that Defence, DMO, and the RAAF are wrong about Wedgetail IOC.
Again, that (along with the Defence motto of wanting to control the message) should be very interesting to anyone (like a Senator) that has questions over the Wedgetail.
I nearly fell of my chair when I read that the Wedgetail was IOC!
Now I don't have any insider information, but I've been following that program for years and I'd be expecting nothing less than a national advertising campaign trumpeting Aussie World domination when/if the Wedgetail delivers on its promises. Yet the IOC proclamations have been somewhat muted...
It's not alleged. If you don't like Horde's opinion, feel free to take it up with Magoo.
I'm sure you know who he is? They even work for the same organisation now.
He adds the -0012 extra to his initials, simply because of a confusing instance on the forum some years back, with someone using a similar handle, much in the same way you abbreviate your name on some forums.
He hasn't hidden that he is currently the project manager for JP 2030 and Gary hasn't made any attempt to conceal who he is or largely what his opinion is on a broad range of topics.
I'm glad we have someone who is willing to speak on these sort of issues. I haven't heard the like of it, since Peter Leahy joined a def forum some years back and engaged freely, back and forth with the members over an extended period.
Perhaps if more engaged in such a fashion, many of the ills you see, might be made a bit clearer, for those of us interested?
Where does Magoo work? Didn't he recently start with the NACC?
If this is Fairlie, an employee of DMO,I would think that he has broken his employment contract at least?Or is he officially sanctioned to "leak".
More and more interesting.
Bonza/AD you are sensitive.Why?
As a public servant you should know the rules
Perplexed. As always, your comments are appreciated. I didn't post your last comment as I didn't think this was the place to dig into a named person's personal/professional life even if I may not be their biggest fan.
Thanks for your understanding in advance.
No problems.You are correct.
We interrupt this program for a short announcement and clarification...
I DO NOT work for DMO, Defence, or any other government affiliated organisation.
Now, back to our egularly scheduled shit fight!
Magoo
And Bonza et al...
Please don't bring my name into this conversation...I haven't commented on this subject, nor do I intend to.
Whether intended to be flung or not, mud sticks, and I've had a hell of a time recently trying to wash ths stains out.
Magoo
Re the important bit; feedback from the operating level last week indicated there are problems integrating software (BAE?) with Wedgetail systems.
The alarming aspect is Australia apparently committed to a whole of life support contract for this platform at cost around $800-900million, yet there seems no assurance that the capability will become adequately functional!
Bushranger71:
Every risk that has materialised in the Wedgetail Project is contained in the Risk Registers developed by the Industry IV&V for Wedgetail Team back in 1999.
Some of the big ones were put into the 'Deleted Risk Register' after the Project Office consulted with the Prime Contractor.
IIRC - there are other risks in those registers that are also likely, if not almost certain, to materialise.
The ASF has not "committed to a whole of life support contract" for Wedgetail.
It is currently supported under a 5 year In-Service Support Contract (ISSC) signed with Boeing in early 2010.
Thank you Anonymous (Magoo?) for the update re Wedgetail support arrangements - earlier PR must have been imprecise.
But the big issue is viability. This platform will apparently cost around $60,000 per flying hour to operate. That is awfully expensive for a relatively unproven capability.
Perhaps wishful thinking, but maybe DoD contributors can advise current status of the project without recourse to the 'security' excuse.
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