Manufacturing know-how delivers for the Royal Australian Air Force

“Since joining Raytheon Australia through the GradX program, I’ve spent considerable time with the Air Weapons Ranges Services team,” George said.

“I’ve been working on a project that provides design, procurement, and delivery of destructible targets to the Delamere Air Weapons Range in the Northern Territory, to support Australian Defence Force exercises. The best part is, I was invited to the weapons range to support one of those exercises.”

George graduated with a mechanical systems engineer from the Australian National University, in Canberra, in 2023. In the same year, he was one of 10 university students to join Raytheon Australia’s successful GradX program.

As well as accessing unique perks, GradX participants are guaranteed a full-time role at Raytheon Australia on completion of their university degree.

George joined the Air Weapons Ranges Services, or AWRS, team in Canberra, supporting supply chain management, reviewing and updating assembly instructions, preparing tool lists for assembly, and writing hazard logs and job safety analysis.
 
“I have been really enjoying the role,” George said. “Then in June I was given the opportunity to travel to [Delamere Air Weapons Range] to support Exercise Diamond Storm, which gave me a chance to put my skills and learning into practice.”

Diamond Storm is a three-week exercise that tests the planning and decision-making skills of candidate Air Warfare instructors across nine distinct roles and categories, including fighter combat, surveillance roles, air mobility, intelligence, and combat control teams.

George was partnered with Luke Hilton, Raytheon Australia field service representative from the Enhanced Position Location Reporting System team, based in Queensland. The pair met in Darwin, then hired a 4WD and drove to Katherine, 300km south-east of Darwin, to pick up a trailer and ladders, and then on to nearby RAAF Base Tindal, to pick up tools. From there they drove to Delamere Air Weapons Range, or DAWR, a further 140km south.

“As part of our assignment, Luke and I observed RAAF personnel using the tools we supplied to assemble ‘prototype targets,’ including cars and trucks, which were required to represent threats,” George said.

“Each target was wrapped with a reflective material to provide a larger radar signature, making it easier for pilots to detect and target the objects.”

George and Hilton spent one week on the range, working closely with RAAF personnel to identify improvement opportunities in the assembly instructions and tooling, and to ensure safety protocols were appropriate. Their feedback was used to update assembly instructions and tool inventories for the remaining targets, enabling RAAF personnel to independently construct them safely and efficiently.

“Overall, the RAAF was really happy with our support and recommendations, and there’s no doubt Luke and I have built lasting relationships with the team,” George said.

George’s manager and Advance Combat Enablers Program Manager, Daniel Pringle, praised the graduate systems engineer’s efforts. 

“Sheldon played an instrumental role in ensuring that Raytheon Australia delivered targets that could be safely and efficiently assembled for the RAAF exercise,” he said.

“He diligently applied his technical skills in identifying and resolving technical risks in sub-contractor design artefacts, prototype assemblies, and final site assemblies. Sheldon’s calm and considered approach to all of his work immediately saw him gain the respect of both the Raytheon Australia team and the RAAF.”