WOOMERA RANGE COMPLEX

(UNCLASSIFIED)

Woomera – A Brief History

Establishing the Range – the Mission Leader 1946-1950:

Lieutenant-General Sir John Fullarton Evetts CB CBE MC (1891-1988)

• 1944-45 – German V2 Rocket Program signaled the start of the ICBM threat

• 1945 – the Atomic Bomb became a reality and with it the threat of nuclear ICBM attack on the UK from the Soviet Union

• 1945-46 – the ‘Cold War’ had began

• April 1946 – area reserved for long-range weapons test range

• March 1947 - The ‘Evetts Eleven’ arrive from the UK

• 1st April 1947 – Anglo-Australia Joint Project formally established

• 24th April 1947 – the name ‘Woomera’ suggested

• 19 May 1947 – Construction begins

• 4th July 1947 – first aircraft (a DC-3) lands at Woomera

• 5th December 1947 – Woomera’s first trial conducted

• 22nd March 1949 – first missile firing trial

Woomera Range: Operational Attributes of ‘Place’ : The natural attributes of the WPA translate to the operational environment as follows: • Landspace: Woomera is the largest land-based test and evaluation range in the free-world

(127,000 sq km), a unique place providing a vast land and air space area for the safe conduct and recovery of a wide range of hazardous ground, air and space activities.

• Airspace: Very low traffic airspace overlying the entire prohibited area can be activated via NOTAM ‘as required’ from ground to infinity to achieve total airspace control.

• Safety: The extremely low population density(1person/1000sqkm) provides a low-risk environment for the safe conduct of a wide variety of hazardous trial activities (unique for a land-based range).

• Security: Remoteness and low population density coupled with Federally regulated and enforced access control provides capability for implementing strict security arrangements for range safety management and for sensitive military or commercial programs

• Recovery: The flat easily accessible terrain is ideal for test object recovery by suitable 4WD vehicles.

• E-Quiet: Woomera’s benign electromagnetic environment provides one of the world’s most ideal EW, NAVWAR and Cyber-Space simulation, test and evaluation environments available.

Woomera is a ‘vast area’

Historical – Long Range & Space Weapons Testing (1947-1980):

• At the height of the long-range weapons testing program during the 1950s and 60s, over 7000 people lived at Woomera, and it was second only to Cape Canaveral for the number of annual rocket launches from its nine launch areas across the range

‘PROSPERO’ – launched from Lake Hart

‘ELDO’ – launched from Lake Hart

‘Blue Streak’ – launched from Lake Hart

Area 6 (Lake Hart)– Launcher A

The Anglo-Australia Project

Historical – British Nuclear Testing at Woomera (Mid 1950’s):

• During the 1950s, the United Kingdom also tested nuclear weapons at the Maralinga and Emu sites in the far west of the Range.

• Throughout the ‘Cold War’ period, Woomera played a critical role in the Western World’s strategic defence posture, by helping to ensure its retaliatory capabilities were tested and ready if needed.

Maralinga A-bomb Test

22 October 1956

The Anglo-Australia Project

Historical – Deep Space Station 41 (DSS-41) – Island Lagoon

• During the 1960’s the US (NASA) established DSS-41 at Island Lagoon – approx 28km south of Woomera.

• DSS-41 played a major role in the Gemini and Moon missions programs along with the Range’s Red Lake and Mirikata tracking stations

• After the end of the Gemini program, the DSS-41 ‘dish’ was so highly regarded the NASA decided to dismantle the entire system and return it back to the USA – where is it still in operation today!

Island Lagoon - DSS-41

Historical – Australia – 4th Country to Launch its own Satellite into Space: Australia's Project WRESAT (Weapons Research Establishment Satellite) involved the development and launch from Woomera of a small scientific satellite at 2.19 pm on 29 November 1967 (local time), thereby making Australia the fourth country in the world to launch its own satellite from its own territory after the U.S.S.R., U.S.A. and France. The satellite, with its third stage rocket motor still attached, was placed in a near-polar orbit atop a U.S. Redstone rocket.

WRESAT Launch – Area 8 Launcher

29 November 1967

Historical – Joint Defence Facility Nurrungar:

• The Joint Defence Facility Nurrungar (JDFN) was established in 1969 just south of Woomera Support Base – this project closed in 1999

• JDFN operated as part of the US and NATO global ‘first-strike’ communications and response system

JDFN at night – c.1985

Woomera: “World Historic Aerospace Site”

On the 18th of July 2007, Woomera’s unique role in the global development of aerospace technology was formally recognised by the world-renowned “American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics” (AIAA) when the WTR was proclaimed as a ‘World Historic Aerospace Site’ This recognition put Woomera’s historical role in global aerospace development in perspective, rating that contribution in the same league as Tranquillity Base, the site where man first landed on the moon, and Kitty Hawk in the USA, the site of the first confirmed heavier-than-air aircraft flight.

Governance/Strategic Management

Woomera – ‘a strategic national asset’ (DCIC – 2007)

Range Governance: Strategic Role (CAF Intent) - the WRC:

• is a unique Australian Defence warfighter enabling capability

• primarily exists for the ‘test and evaluation of war materiel’

• is operated by Air Force but exists to support whole of defence and other

national requirements

WOOMERA RANGE COMPLEX - ORGANISATION

WRC

WRHQ

RAAF WOOMERA TEST RANGE RAAF BASE WOOMERA

WPA – NTA - WRX -WCR AIRBASE – VILLAGE (WRTU) (20SQN & DSRG)

Source: AOSG2015 – WTRA Service Catalogue 31 Oct 2011

RAAF Woomera Test Range

WOOMERA RANGE HEADQUARTERS (WRHQ - TASK UNIT 646.7.3)

STRATEGIC ROLE:

“Our mission is to enable the testing of war materiel to deliver more effective

warfighters”

Source: AOSG2015 – WTRA Service Catalogue 31 Oct 2011

WTR – Our Strategic Role:

Director (EL2/O6)

Woomera Range Complex

Mr Reg Carruthers

WTR – Our Operational Mission

Woomera Range meets its role requirements through the provision of four operating environments supporting:

• the testing of air and space-based weapons systems

• the testing of ground-based weapons systems

• the testing and disposal of hazardous war materials

• the conduct of force preparedness and other warfighting readiness training, testing, and evaluation

Source: AOSG2015 – WTRA Service Catalogue 31 Oct 2011

The Woomera Capability is also:

• a unique Australian Defence asset that is capable of testing all the next generation of air weapons systems within its land boarders

• through joint activities with our major allies, playing a key role in Australia’s desired status as an emerging middle level world power

• being upgraded over the next 7-8 years to meet the ADF’s defined need for a National Defence Test & Evaluation capability through to 2035 and beyond

Strategic Capability - Outputs to Defence Objectives:

The following examples of Australian Defence trials programs utilizing Woomera illustrates the Range’s continuing real-time role in Defence – strategically, operationally, and tactically:

• Strategic (Developing future systems) – Research & Experimentation (R&E) - DSTO Weapons Systems development including EW Counter Measures, Hypersonic Engines, UAVs, and future munitions.

• Operational (Maintaining the force in being) – Test and evaluation (T&E) of guided missiles (JSOW, JASSM), EW Force Protection, NAVWAR, UAV’s, EO, Ground based weapons systems including tanks, artillery, ground to air missile and decoy defence systems.

• Tactical (Direct support to operations) – deploying and deployed force preparedness, testing and training including CIED Task Force, Heron UAV Flight, and EOD Mission Training and Rehearsal.

Woomera – testing tomorrows systems today.. • Some of the world’s most advanced Unmanned Combat and Surveillance Air Vehicle Systems – ‘nothing to get in your way’..

• MANTIS • RAVEN • TARANIS • HERTI • HERON

Woomera Test Range – Overview of Layout:

Nurrungar

Support Base

Camp Rapier

Airbase

Range G

Red Lake Area

Lake Hart Area Range E PASTA

Rangehead/RCC

Woomera Test Range - Detailed Layout (Red Zone Ranges):

Range E

PASTA

RCC

Nurrungar

Support Base

Camp Rapier

Airbase

Range G

Red Lake Area

Lake Hart Area

Woomera Test Range – Range Control Centre: Range Control Centre

No.1 Launcher

Launcher

RCC

Evetts Field

R1 Radar

MPS-36

Woomera Test Range- Other Specialist Trials Areas:

Camp Rapier – Secure, specialist combat force preparation and support facility (located approx 2km north of DSB Woomera – Garrison up to ‘Company+’ (i.e. 180-200 persons under basic field accommodation) – Afghan Village Simulation & Training Facility

Nurrungar Test Area – Special Use CIED/EW Trials Facility (approximately 15km South of Woomera) – supported from DSB Woomera for garrison support and through JEWOSU for direct operational support to the overseas battle theatre

Afghan Village MRE Training – Camp Rapier

CIED Testing on Bushmasters - Nurrungar

Primary ADoD users (includes National and Joint/Allied Activities):

• Department of Defence (Ministerial)

• Vice Chief of Defence Group (CIED Task Force/Special Forces)

• Air Force Headquarters and RAAF Force Element Groups

• Australian Army Force Element Groups

• Australian Naval Force Element Groups

• Capability Development Group (ADTEO)

• Defence Materiel Organisation (Systems Program Offices)

• Defence Science & Technology Organisation (All Divisions)

• ADoD Special Access Program

External to ADoD (National Tasking):

• Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet (DPMC)

• Department of Industry, Innovation, Science and Research (DIISR)

Range Operations – Primary Uses:

• Fully Instrumented Air Weapons Test Range including:

• Timing and Comms (telemetry)

• Optical Tracking

• Radar Tracking

• Air & Ground Weapons Live-Firing Ranges

• Electronic Warfare Testing Range

• Ground-Based Air Weapons Testing Range

• Large & Small Scale Hazardous Material & EO Test/Disposal

• Space Launch and Recovery

• Range Control and Safety

• Ground Targets

(Refer WRC Capability Brief Handbook for more detail)

Range Operations – Current Instrumentation:

Next Generation Woomera…..

W O O M E R AW O O M E R A

Scope of Future Capabilities

WRC will replace the Aerospace Test and Evaluation (T&E) and Research and Experimentation (R&E) equipment in the Woomera Test Range (WTR) in order to effectively support Defence T&E and R&E activities in a reliable, controlled, secure and safe environment. Currently Joint Project 3024 (DCP 2009-19) aims to deliver enhanced systems to the WTR.

Next Generation Woomera – Capability to conduct very complex events:

RAAF Base Woomera

RAAF BASE WOOMERA (WMA)

Mission: “To provide direct operational support to the RAAF Woomera Test Range”

Two Elements:

Base Sector North (Restricted Access) – Woomera Aerodrome

Base Sector South (Open//Public Access) – Woomera Village

“Due to the purposeful effect of the special legislation – the base effectively has only one customer – the WTR – because it is within

the WPA”

Source: AOSG2015 – WTRA Service Catalogue 31 Oct 2011

Base Sector North – Aerodrome (Restricted Access):

• 7500’ Main Sealed Runway

• 3 Hangars

• Air Movements

• Base Area

• Refuelling

• Ordnance Loading (OLAs)

• Operates all fast-jet and heavy aircraft

H3 Trials Site

H2 Trials Site

H1 Trials Site

Base Sector South – Woomera Village (Open Public Access):

ELDO Hotel Support Base Map Picture Theatre & Heritage Centre Diner

Superette

• RAAF Base domestic area but open to public access

• Approximately 150-200 base residents and up to 400 transit

• Range of domestic and operational support services and facilities

Woomera Village – Main Services:

Available Base Services:

• Defence-Operated 3* Hotel (500 beds)

• Camp Rapier (200 beds)

• Medical Clinic & RFDS

• Trials Support Services

• Security Services

• Swimming Pool

• Social Clubs

• 560 Seat Conference Facility/Theatre

• South Australian Police (SAPOL)

• Banking & Post Office Agency

• Religious Services

• Bowling Ally

• Museums, Heritage Centre and Missile Park

• Fitness & Squash Facilities

‘SHARPEN THE SPEAR’