Lockheed Martin to deliver satcom system to Australia

Defence has announced Lockheed Martin Australia as the preferred tenderer to deliver on a new Australian Defence satellite communication system, through Joint Project 9102 Phase 1. Lockheed Martin Australia will progress to the next stage of the Defence procurement process, which includes engaging in collaborative tender clarification and improvement activities. Head of Air Defence and Space Systems Division, Air Vice-Marshal David Scheul, said the multi-billion dollar project would deliver Australia’s first sovereign-controlled satellite communication system over the Indo-Pacific ocean regions.  “Currently across Defence there is up to 89 capabilities which depend on satellite communications,” Air Vice-Marshal Scheul said. “Once delivered, the new system will increase the resilience, agility and flexibility of Defence’s military satellite capability.” The new satellite communication system will include: New Defence controlled and operated geo-stationary communications satellites Multiple ground stations across Australia Integrated Satellite Communications Management System Two new satellite communications operations centres. Defence looks forward to working with Lockheed Martin Australia to deliver this important capability to our defence force. “We are proud to be selected as the preferred bidder to deliver this critical capability to the Australian Defence Force,” said Warren McDonald, Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand. “This capability will provide the Australian Defence Force with robust connectivity and reliable information when and where they need it, and by extension, contribute further to the growth and development of Australia’s defence and space industries.” Lockheed Martin will leverage its deep experience in space-based mission solutions and resilient satellite communications networks for its JP9102 offer. “We are excited to work with the Australian Defence Force and Australian industry to develop a robust solution for JP9102,” said Robert Lightfoot, Executive Vice President for Lockheed Martin Space. “We are bringing to bear all of Lockheed Martin’s companywide capabilities as well as our commitment to supporting allied nations to provide an operationally proven system that meets mission needs in terms of coverage, capacity, resilience and extensibility of the constellation.” McDonald added that a significant amount of the content for Lockheed Martin’s proposed JP9102 solution will be via Australian small and medium enterprises and that the company is committed to knowledge sharing and technology transfer. Lockheed Martin has assembled a diverse team of Australian companies including Inovor Technologies, EM Solutions, AV-Comm, Linfox, Shoal Group, Ronson Gears, Calytrix Technologies, Conscia, Clearbox Systems,DXC and Blacktree Technology to deliver ground and control segments and beyond for JP9102. Lockheed Martin has also partnered with the Victorian Government to establish Victoria as the engineering and technical hub for the company’s JP9102 solution, an investment that will create more than 200 advanced space industry jobs in the state. As another example of the priority placed on workforce development, Lockheed Martin Australia recently launched a space-focused education program with STEM Punks, a STEM education initiative to educate, upskill and inspire Australia’s future workforce. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Director of Sales Graham Joss at [email protected]