Lockheed Martin awarded A$1.32bn Australian air defence contract

The Australian Government has announced a A$2.4 billion investment into Tranche 2B of Project Air 6500, also known as the Joint Air Battle Management System (JABMS). This project is a foundational component of Australia’s integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) strategy, which involves a total planned expenditure of A$30 billion over the next decade.

Lockheed Martin Australia has been awarded a A$1.32 billion contract to lead the majority of the work for this phase. The contract aims to enhance the system’s core architecture by adding advanced command and control aids, expanded communications, and improved cybersecurity capabilities. The goal is to create a unified view of the battlespace, allowing for the detection and countering of threats across various ranges while integrating with the Australian Defence Force, its allies, and partners.

The investment will be distributed over a six-year period. Lockheed Martin Australia intends to expand its local engineering workforce from 360 to more than 400 personnel within 18 months. A significant portion of the Tranche 2B effort will also be delivered by Australian industry partners.