Lockheed Martin Australia says AIR6500 solution will unlock new $83 billion IAMD export market for Australia
19 February 23
At its Headquarters in Canberra, Lockheed Martin Australia recently showcased its proposed AIR6500 solution, demonstrating a modern Battle Management System that can fuse the inputs of Defence’s vast array of highly capable sensors into a single actionable picture – bringing clarity and cohesion to a complex undertaking. With Lockheed Martin’s solution, Australia has the potential to benefit from a global market estimated to be worth A$83 billion.
“Our focus on Australian industry, and how they contribute to our proposed solution, has the potential to provide a pipeline into the global IAMD enterprise” said Warren McDonald, chief executive, Lockheed Martin Australia New Zealand.
Lockheed Martin Australia is drawing on the best of Australian industry to deliver AIR6500. It has awarded contracts to more than 10 leading-edge companies, including QinetiQ Australia, Leidos Australia, Consunet, Consilium, C4I, Silentium, Penten, Lucid Consulting Engineering and Daronmont.
“Lockheed Martin carefully hand selected our partners, using our extensive experience in delivering battle-proven IAMD systems to not only design a solution trusted to defend Australia and its national interests but to choose those with the skills to contribute to it,” said Kendell Kuczma, International Business Development Director of Rotary and Missions Systems for Australia and New Zealand. “By leveraging Australian companies with a strong understanding of Defence, we will create a system that connects Defence’s modern systems and display it to commanders who can make decisions with improved clarity and situational awareness.”
Deeply committed to developing a system that can support Defence’s needs, Lockheed Martin has invested heavily over the last seven years to ensure the best capability is delivered. “We understand the gravity of the task these systems bare, and to those charged with operating them to protect our nation’s interests. If ever there was a capability that you co-invest in and commit early to delivering a flexible architecture that can accommodate technological advances – it is IAMD. Since 2015, Lockheed Martin Australia has committed to supporting Defence with its vision to transform into a fully integrated and IAMD capable force,” said Kuczma.
To support this outcome Lockheed Martin Australia has:
Committed A$74 million to establish the nation’s future IAMD Ecosystem. This ecosystem will facilitate collaboration between academia, industry, Defence, and Coalition and Allied partners to develop critical IAMD capabilities. It is expected to create more than 400 direct and 1,000 indirect local jobs.
Invested over A$100 million into AIR6500.
Doubled its sovereign workforce in just 12 months, with over 200 Australian staff now dedicated to AIR6500. The local team is also supported by 60 staff from the United States, who are facilitating both IAMD knowledge and technology transfer to Australia.
Invested over A$10 million upgrading their Endeavour Centre to engage, explore, test, design and problem solve together with the ADF and industry through innovation, war gaming, exercises and more.
Source: APDR