Lockheed Martin Australia has signed a landmark AUD 500 million (EUR 304 million) contract with the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) to build the country’s future Joint Air Battle Management System under Project Air 6500 Phase 1 (AIR6500-1), Lockheed Martin announced on 24 April 2024.
This system will provide the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with an advanced integrated air and missile defence capability, using next-gen technologies, to combat high-speed threats.
Stewarded by the Australian DoD and Lockheed Martin Australia, AIR6500-1 will be built in Australia, with a significant majority of the programme workshare allocated across the Australian defence industry.
“Under AIR6500-1 an eight-year strategic partnership will generate important economic benefits, including over 230 new jobs across Adelaide, Williamtown and Canberra,” Lockheed Martin stated in a press release. “Career opportunities include high-value STEM roles such as engineering, software development, cyber [capabilities], and project management.
“A further 300 in-direct jobs will be created in Australia’s air and missile defence supply chain and provide opportunities for Australian industry to benefit from a global USD 83 billion export market,” Lockheed Martin added.
Lockheed Martin Australia is also investing in the establishment of a National Integrated Air and Missile Defence Ecosystem to support the endeavour.
“We are honoured to be the Australian Defence Force’s strategic partner and lead the delivery of AIR6500-1. At the core of this 21st Century security, joint all-domain system is Australian industry,” stated Erika Marshall, vice president for C4ISR within Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems.
“Together with the Department of Defence, we are harnessing the ingenuity found in Australian small to medium enterprises, industry primes and academia to build a transformational capability that will establish Australia’s Defence Force as one of the most highly advanced in the world,” Marshall added.
Ahead of the AIR6500-1 contract signing Lockheed Martin Australia developed an Operator Evaluation System for the Joint Air Battle Management System, which the company stated was delivered ahead of schedule and on budget. Using this system the ADF’s air battle managers can access a secure test environment to provide feedback on AIR6500-1’s design and functionality. This feedback will inform future development activities.
“AIR6500-1 will give Australia and our allies a greater level of connectivity and interoperability to counter current and future air and missile threats,” stated Warren McDonald, Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand’s chief executive. “In a contested and fast-moving environment, AIR6500-1 will give decision makers more time to consider and respond to a situation; time in these circumstances is a precious commodity,” McDonald added.
