Northrop Grumman Australia demonstrates AIR6500 offering
31 August 22
The prime’s proposed Joint Air Battle Management System capability has been showcased to senior Defence representatives.
Northrop Grumman Australia (NGA) has put its fifth-generation Joint Air Battle Management System (JABMS) offering to the test, as part of a demonstration to the AIR6500 Program Office in the Department of Defence.
The test leveraged the modular, open systems architecture, which draws from a US all-domain command and control (C2) architecture.
This aimed to demonstrate genuine risk reduction to the future JABMS capability for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
The demonstration involved a number of real-time operational scenarios, which showcased the command-and-control functions of the capability, while also reportedly providing a “complete overview” of the battlespace.
According to NGA, the demonstration also validated its delivery approach and its ability to “rapidly integrate” Australian sovereign capabilities into the JABMS solution.
“Over the last 12 months, Northrop Grumman Australia has made significant steps to reduce key risks to delivering our proposed JABMS solution,” Christine Zeitz, general manager, Northrop Grumman Asia-Pacific, said.
“Together with our Australian industry partners, we look forward to working with the Commonwealth to build a highly collaborative ‘JABMS Enterprise’ in support of the Australian Defence Force.”
Mary Petryszyn, corporate vice president and president, Northrop Grumman Defense Systems, said the company has combined “best of breed” technology from its all-domain C2 program of record, engineered a “truly sovereign” capability.
“This technology is relevant now and will continue to be relevant into the future, providing an effective and enduring defensive capability to Australia and its allies,” Petryszyn added.
NGA’s JABMS offering is designed to link sensors and effectors across domains, supporting the optimisation of responses and operating within a broader C2 functionality.
The open systems architecture is expected to enable the joint force to leverage current and evolving platforms in a bid to accelerate decision making.
NGA’s demonstration forms part of the Commonwealth government’s AIR6500 Competitive Evaluation Process.
The prime is competing against Lockheed Martin Australia for the contract, with a government decision expected in late 2023.
Source: Defence Connect