Five SMEs join Lockheed Martin in communications system development

Five Australian small to medium enterprises (SMEs) have joined with defence contractor Lockheed Martin Australia (LMA) to develop a communications system that will interconnect the many disparate platforms, systems and sensors utilised by Australia’s defence forces.

The Joint Air Battle Management System (JABMS) being developed for defence’s AIR6500 project, will integrate electromagnetic and cyber domains into a collaborative environment that provides shared situational battlespace awareness.

Defence is aiming for a fully networked 5th generation force.

LMA, together with Consilium Technology, Consunet, Shoal, Silentium Defence and Ultra, will explore technologies ranging from electronic warfare battle management, contested communications, cyber protection, advanced systems engineering and passive sensing.

LMA AIR6500 programme executive Steve Froelich said the company had been steadily building up its Australian presence.

Froelich said: “Critical to that effort has been our focus on proactively engaging and establishing partnerships with Australian industry to identify and invest in ‘best of breed’ local capabilities to deliver a truly sovereign capability solution for Australia.”

Real and virtual roadshows around Australia and New Zealand identified and validated more than 130 Australian SMEs as potential industry partners with technologies that could be incorporated into an AIR6500 programme solution.

More information can be found at the ICN gateway here.

Picture : Lockheed Martin Australia

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