Boeing has signed a contract to enhance and modernise the Royal Australian Navy’s communications capabilities under SEA1442 Phase 5. Boeing Defence Australia’s (BDA) Maritime Warfighter Network is a resilient, interoperable communications system that will seamlessly connect ships and other joint and coalition assets without the constraint of routing all communication paths back to Australia.
“Automation will provide Navy with the ability to easily use various communication transmission devices, reducing operator workload and enhancing operational effectiveness when deployed at sea,” said Murray Brabrook, BDA Joint Systems director.
Once delivered, Navy’s Maritime Warfighter Network will provide the Australian Defence Force with a single network to connect the Integrated Force.
“We look forward to delivering Navy a low-risk, secure networking system for their deployed assets, as we have done for the Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force through the Integrated Battlefield Telecommunications Network (IBTN),” Brabrook said.
Project partner, BMT will leverage their capabilities in managing system integration across the maritime domain. “This project displays our commitment to partnering to build stronger capability for our customers,” said Graeme Nayler, regional business director, APAC for BMT. “Having supported similar projects across the Australian naval fleet, we are experts at integrating complex systems into maritime platforms that will stand up to the rigours of sea deployment.”
BDA has one of the largest military communications-focused engineering workforces in Australia who will continually evolve the Australian-made communications technology to meet changing demands on the warfighter.
“Navy will be able to contribute to and benefit from this enduring evolution,” said Brabrook. “When combined with BMT’s expertise we are positioned to accelerate delivery of a mature product to Navy.”
Installation on the first ship is anticipated to be completed in Q1 2027, with all eight ships under the contract expected to be completed by mid-2029.
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