Lockheed Martin selected as partner for air defence system

The Department of Defence has chosen Lockheed Martin Australia (LMA) as the essential accomplice to steward AIR6500 Stage 1 (AIR6500-1) – the conveyance of another Joint Air Battle Management System (JABMS). 

JABMS will uphold a coordinated air and missile protection capacity across the ADF and public framework, giving more significant situational consciousness of advanced air and rocket dangers and expanded interoperability with worldwide accomplices. 

Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, Warren McDonald, said, “Lockheed Martin is deeply committed to being the ADF’s trusted, long-term sovereign partner for Air 6500-1. 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 have Australian industry to build a sovereign 21st Century Security capability trusted to defend Australia and its national interests now and in the future.” 

Up to 230 jobs in high-tech fields like software development, systems engineering, project management, and logistics are expected from the project, including subcontractors. Around 150 positions will be in South Australia, 60 in the NSW Tracker locale, with others in Brisbane and Canberra. 

“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,” McDonald added. 

“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,” said Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles. 

The public authority has committed $765 million to convey the Joint Air Battle System, as the second tranche of what is generally anticipated to be a multibillion-dollar program.