Lockheed Martin Australia has signed a AUD500 million contract with the Department of Defence to build Australia’s future Joint Air Battle Management System.
The project, known as AIR6500 Phase 1 (AIR6500-1), will provide Defence with an advanced integrated air and missile defence capability, using next-gen technologies to combat high-speed threats.
“AIR6500-1 will give Australia and our allies a greater level of connectivity and interoperability to counter current and future air and missile threats,” said Lockheed Martin’s ANZ CEO Warren McDonald. “In a contested and fast-moving environment, AIR6500-1 will give decision-makers more time to consider and respond to a situation. Time in these circumstances is a precious commodity.”
Both parties say the eight-year strategic partnership will generate important economic benefits, including over 230 jobs across Adelaide, Williamtown and Canberra, with a significant majority of the AIR6500-1 program workshare to be allocated across Australian industry.
A further 300 in-direct jobs will be created in Australia’s air and missile defence supply chain. AIR6500-1 will also provide opportunities for Australian industry to benefit from a global USD83 billion export market. In addition, Lockheed Martin Australia is investing in a National Integrated Air and Missile Defence Ecosystem to support Defence.
“We are honoured to be the Australian Defence Force’s strategic partner and lead the delivery of AIR6500-1,” said Erika Marshall, vice president, C4ISR, Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems. “Together with the Department of Defence, we are harnessing the ingenuity found in Australian small-to-medium enterprises, industry primes and academia to build a transformational capability that will establish Australia’s Defence Force as one of the most highly advanced in the world.”
