Lockheed Martin wins $950M Australian air

Lockheed Martin Australia has won a 1.32 billion Australian dollar contract, equivalent to $950 million USD, to sustain and expand the country's joint air battle management system. The deal, announced by the company and the Australian Department of Defence, is a core part of Project AIR6500 Tranche 2B aimed at improving air and missile defense.

The contract will enhance the AIR6500 system's core architecture with advanced command and control aids, expanded communications, and cyber-security. According to a Lockheed Martin news release, this will maintain resilient, networked sensor and command capabilities that can sense and track incoming threats. The system is designed to integrate with the Australian Defence Force's targeting enterprise, allies, and partners.

Jeremy King, chief executive of Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, stated in the press release that this phase "fortifies the core" of Australia's integrated air and missile defense. "AIR6500 enhances the joint force by bringing all ADF defence assets together on a scalable, resilient, and collaborative platform," King said. He added it provides clearer cross-domain awareness and a more effective way to respond to air and missile threats.

System integration and scope

The joint air battle management system integrates Australia's air and missile defence capabilities across all domains into a single, unified view of the battlespace. Its purpose is to detect and counter threats at various ranges. Lockheed Martin says the enhancements will establish a scalable path for future improvements and the integration of new technological advances.

Defence Minister Richard Marles called Project AIR6500 a landmark investment in Australia's air defense capability. He said the system will help ensure the Australian Defence Force can respond effectively to future threats and deliver on the priorities of both the National Defence Strategy and the Defence Industry Development Strategy.

Broader defence investment

The contract award is part of a larger $2.4 billion AUD investment over six years announced by the Australian Department of Defence. This funding is intended to modernise air surveillance and aircraft control functions while supporting the coordination of Defence operations in Australia and overseas. A departmental release stated the capability will connect current and future Defence platforms.

NASAMS achieves operational status

In a separate announcement also made today, the Australian Department of Defence confirmed the Australian Army's National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) has attained Final Operational Capability. Australia acquired two batteries of three NASAMS launchers each in 2017 under a contract with Raytheon Australia for its short-range ground-based air defense requirement.

The department's announcement said this milestone confirms the NASAMS has met all requirements for operational service and is ready to support Australian Defence Force operations.