UPDATED: Lockheed Martin Australia selected as Australian Defence Force’s strategic partner for AIR6500

Adds comments from Lockheed Martin Australia The Australian Government is delivering two key air and missile defence capability projects, as it gets on with the job of implementing the recommendations of the Defence Strategic Review. The Review makes clear that an enhanced, all-domain integrated air and missile defence capability is critical in the face of Australia’s evolving strategic circumstances. As a part of its response, the Government has committed $765 million to deliver the Joint Air Battle Management System. This is the second tranche of what is expected to be a multibillion dollar program. The Joint Air Battle Management System will support an enhanced, integrated and coordinated air and missile defence capability across the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and national infrastructure. It will provide greater situational awareness of advanced air and missile threats and increased interoperability with international partners. Lockheed Martin Australia has been selected as the Strategic Partner for this project and will collaborate with other Australian defence industry partners, presenting significant workforce, technological, and integration opportunities for Australian industry. The project is likely to generate up to 230 jobs, including for subcontractors, in high-tech areas including software development, systems engineering, project management and logistics. Around 150 jobs will be in South Australia, 60 in the NSW Hunter region, with others in Brisbane and Canberra. The Government is also accelerating the ADF’s Medium-Range Ground-Based Air Defence capability, which will form part of a layered, integrated air missile defence capability. Options are currently being developed with several companies for Government consideration. The Government is making the necessary investments to enhance the ADF and provide more coordinated and better integrated systems. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said: “The Albanese Government is working at pace to ensure the ADF is equipped with modernised capabilities that will allow it to transition into a genuine integrated force optimised for national defence, as we implement the findings of the Defence Strategic Review. The new Joint Air Battle Management System, and the Medium-Range Ground-Based Air Defence System will contribute effective capabilities as part of an integrated ADF. These capabilities are essential in our pursuit of preserving and protecting our sovereignty and security, while also promoting stability in our region.” Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said: “This Government is maximising opportunities for Australian industry, including small and medium enterprises, as we deliver these important defence capabilities. I’m pleased to say today’s announcement will create a significant number of high-skilled secure defence industry jobs, boosting the local economy.” “We are honoured to be selected as the trusted strategic partner to lead and deliver this important sovereign capability, in partnership with Australian industry, to the Australian Defence Force,” said Stephanie C. Hill, executive vice president, Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems. “Australia’s AIR6500-1 program is truly transformational. It will set the blueprint for future military Joint All-Domain Operations across the globe.” She added, “This critical capability will allow the ADF to leverage information from across all domains at greater speeds, with better accuracy and at a greater scale than it is capable of today.” Since 2015, Lockheed Martin Australia has been highly dedicated to supporting ADF’s vision to transform into a fully integrated and IAMD capable force through AIR6500-1. “Lockheed Martin is deeply committed to being the ADF’s trusted, long-term sovereign partner for AIR6500-1. To deliver on this key strategic national endeavour, we are leveraging our vast experience delivering battle-proven Integrated Air and Missile Defence systems and harnessing the full might of Australian industry to build a sovereign 21st Century Security capability trusted to defend Australia and its national interests now and, in the future,” said Warren McDonald, chief executive, Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand. “This approach will ensure Australian small to medium enterprises have ‘box seats’ in the global supply chain. The Integrated Air and Missile Defence sovereign technologies being created in Australia today will be exported to the world in the future – unlocking a $83B export market for Australia’s defence industry.” Lockheed Martin Australia has advanced a sovereign AIR6500-1 system solution that has been built from the ground up in Australia by Australians to safeguard Australia’s national security. To-date, Lockheed Martin Australia has: Validated more than 130 Australian small to medium enterprises as potential partners. Awarded contracts to more than 10 leading-edge companies such as Leidos Australia, Consunet, Consilium, C4I, Silentium, Penten, Lucid Consulting Engineering, and engaged with prime contractors, Raytheon and Boeing, during the risk reduction phase to develop an agile, integrated AIR6500 solution. Committed AUD$74M to establish the nation’s future IAMD ecosystem to accelerate collaboration between academia, industry, Defence, and allied partners on IAMD capabilities. The IAMD ecosystem is expected to create more than 400 direct and 1,000 indirect local jobs. Invested over AUD$100M into AIR6500. Grown its sovereign workforce to over 200 Australian staff now dedicated to AIR6500. Invested over AUD$10M to upgrade its Endeavour Centre to engage, explore, test, design and problem solve together with the ADF and industry through innovation, war gaming, exercises and more. McDonald added, “We recognise a team approach is vital to the success of AIR6500-1 in building a sovereign Australian IAMD capability, therefore moving forward on program execution the majority of the program workshare will be allocated across Australian industry.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Director of Sales Graham Joss at [email protected]