Lockheed Martin awarded $1.32 billion contract for Tranche 2B of JABMS

The Australian Government has awarded Lockheed Martin Australia a $1.32 billion contract for Tranche 2B of Project AIR6500. This is a sovereign, high-tech Joint Air Battle Management System (JABMS) that integrates Australia’s air and missile defence capabilities across all-domains into a single, unified view of the battlespace to detect and counter threats at various ranges.

The company was awarded the estimated $765 million Tranche 2A contract in 2024. Tranche 2A will deliver the core JABMS command-and-control architecture for Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD), providing greater situational awareness of advanced air and missile threats, and increased interoperability with international partners.

Lockheed Martin Australia has also invested $85.9 million in the establishment of a National Integrated Air and Missile Defence Ecosystem at RAAF Base Williamtown to support Defence.

Under Tranche 2B, Lockheed Martin Australia, together with the Department of Defence and Australian industry, will enhance AIR6500’s core architecture with advanced C2 aids, expanded comms, and cyber‑security to maintain resilient, networked sensor and C2 capabilities that can sense and track incoming threats and integrate with the Australian Defence Force’s targeting enterprise, allies and partners. This framework establishes a scalable path for ongoing systems innovation and rapid integration of future technologies, keeping Australia ahead of emerging threats.

Lockheed Martin Australia will continue to sustain, train, and grow its 360 locally skilled engineering workforce, the largest integrated air and missile defence industrial base in Australia, while expanding the team to 400+ within 18 months. Over the next six years, a substantial share of the AIR6500 Tranche 2B effort will be delivered by Australian Industry partners.

Lockheed Martin’s president of Rotary and Mission Systems, Stephanie C. Hill, said, “As the strategic partner for AIR6500, Lockheed Martin is proud to continue working with the Department of Defence to rapidly evolve an advanced integrated air and missile defence system that safeguards the Indo‑Pacific region.”

“Together, we are maturing a significant capability that strengthens Australia’s national security and increases allied interoperability to combat future threats.”

Over the past two years, Lockheed Martin Australia has delivered a series of milestones in Tranche 2A AIR6500, laying the groundwork for the next phase of AIR6500:

• produced a modular JABMS prototype, two joint tactical operations centres and a single persistent operations node, for testing and evaluation
• provided training to the RAAF on delivered elements
• completed fit‑out of the AIR6500 integration lab in Adelaide
• developed a 360-strong engineering and technical workforce while partnering with Australian Industry to maximise sovereign content in the system.

Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand’s Chief Executive, Jeremy King, said, “This contract confirms the Australian Government’s confidence in Australian Defence Industry’s capacity to deliver world‑class, Australian‑built capabilities that are trusted to protect our nation and its allies.”

“Lockheed Martin Australia remains firmly committed to continue partnering with primes, small-to-medium enterprises, and academia to source the best‑of‑breed technologies, delivering a sovereign solution that strengthens Australia’s industrial self-reliance and prosperity.”

“The next phase of AIR6500 fortifies the core of Australia’s integrated air and missile defence.”

King added, “AIR6500 enhances the joint force by bringing all ADF defence assets together on a scalable, resilient, and collaborative platform. It gives us clearer cross‑domain awareness and a more effective way to respond to air and missile threats.”