Updated 29 March, 2019
After years in the making, the Commonwealth and Lockheed Martin Australia have signed a $282 million contract for JP9711, Defence’s core simulation capability.
Partnering with Australian SME Calytrix Technologies and NEC Australia, the program aims to be the connector of the ADF’s wider simulation environment.
“Defence's current simulation capability allows for roughly 10 simulation events per year,” Minister for Defence Industry Senator Linda Reynolds told the audience at the signing ceremony today in Canberra. “Under 9711, this will see 50 events hosted by the end of 2020 and over 200 by FOC in 2025. This program will be at the centre of everything we seek to do in the simulation space going forward.”
Defence has long recognised that their simulation capability is falling short of demand, particularly in the collective training space with events limited in scope and scale.
“I learnt as a pilot I never wanted to go into a space my head hadn’t been first,” Air Vice Marshal Warren McDonald, Head of Joint Capabilities, said. “A Talisman Sabre exercise takes two years to plan. With this program, we will be able to conduct and repeat one at will.”
Working with two local partners for software and hardware/interface solutions, Lockheed Martin Australia CEO Vince Di Pietro said the ‘majority’ of funds will be spent in Australia.
“It’s a solid foundation to build on with both Defence and our partners,” he said to ADM, noting the program will support 100 jobs around the country across Lockheed Martin Australia and its partners.
David Fallon, Business Development Training and Logistics Solutions lead for Australia and NZ at Lockheed Martin, explained that the environment will be able to join together multiple platforms across multiple domains, connecting to regional and coalition partners.
Calytrix will play an important role in providing non-ITARS restricted software solutions when working with non-Five Eyes nations.