Defence Force’s Joint Air Battle Management System Reaches New Milestone

CANBERRA: Following extensive industry engagement and collaboration, the Australian government has selected Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to continue to the final stage of the competitive evaluation process for the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) new Joint Air Battle Management System.

In a statement, Minister for Defence, Peter Dutton commended the commitment of both ADF and the Australian industry in working together to increase the protection of Australian deployed forces.

“The Morrison government’s AUD$2.7 billion ($1.9 billion) investment in a sovereign Joint Air Battle Management System will deliver a critical capability to defend against increasingly advanced air and missile threats,” Minister Dutton said.

“Through the competitive evaluation process, Australian industry has demonstrated its versatility and adaptability to provide innovative proposals in the challenging field of Integrated Air and Missile Defence.

“The Joint Air Battle Management System will connect our ships, aircraft and other capabilities together in a way that multiplies their defensive power.”

Minister for Defence Industry,  Melissa Price congratulated the successful participants on their well-considered and highly competitive responses.

“Defence found the down-selected companies demonstrated the best understanding of its capability requirements, as well as a strong commitment to developing Australian industry capability,” Minister Price said.

“I look forward to seeing the advanced technical solutions and prototypes that will be developed as these companies refine their final offering for the Joint Air Battle Management System.”

The competitive evaluation process will select an Australian company to lead the delivery of the Joint Air Battle Management System and provide the core architecture of Defence’s future Integrated Air and Missile Defence capability.

Boeing Defence Australia and Raytheon Australia also participated in the first stage of the competitive evaluation process, and will continue to be involved in developing the Joint Air Battle Management System and supporting the Integrated Air and Missile Defence Program.

The successful strategic partner for the Joint Air Battle Management System is expected to be announced in late 2023. –dod/adj/aaa (Photo: Autralia’s Department of Defence)