Av-Comm, a satellite communications infrastructure and services provider, has been selected to support Lockheed Martin Australia’s (LMA) bid to deliver a next-generation, sovereign military satellite communication (MILSATCOM) capability to the Australian Defence Force under the JP9102 project.
The Australian Government has invested up to $3 billion into the project, aiming to reduce reliance on the United States' defence capabilities, including the US military’s Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS).
If successful, Av-Comm will be tasked with supporting the installation of high capacity wide-band antenna and radio-frequency subsystems at several satellite ground stations.
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The work would include overseeing design, implementation, integration, and testing.
This latest collaboration builds on Av-Comm’s long-standing relationship with LMA, with the local firm previously supplying space hardware and providing technical support to existing operations at LMA’s Uralla, NSW ground station.
“Av-Comm has a rich heritage in satellite communications, with a trusted reputation for ground services and connecting people on the move,” David Ball, regional director, Lockheed Martin Australia Space said.
“Av-Comm will help us deliver an operationally superior MILSATCOM solution for JP9102 and enhance the trust, reliability and collaboration that our team represents.
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“As Lockheed Martin Australia continues to grow its JP9102 team, we are committed to strengthening Australia’s sovereign defence and space industry capability with a resilient MILSATCOM system that meets Australia’s strategic needs.”
Michael Cratt, Av-Comm managing director welcomed the “unique and mutually beneficial” opportunity to support the delivery of Australia’s next-generation satellite communications capabilities.
“As we support Lockheed Martin Australia to develop and deliver a superior satellite system, we welcome their support for us in expanding and up-skilling our workforce, strengthening our capacity to contribute to Australia’s sovereign space industry,” Cratt added.
Av-Comm is the latest company to join the LMA team, following the likes of Shoal Group, Clearbox Systems and Ronson Gears.
The LMA-led team will be competing against a host of other major contractors, including Airbus, Boeing Defence Australia (BDA), and telecommunications giant Optus.
Airbus’ ‘Team Maier’ recently onboarded Canberra-based tech firm Willyama, which joined engineering and utilities provider UGL, satellite technology manufacturer Blacktree Technology and global tech giant Microsoft.
BDA’s team includes Leidos Australia, Viasat, the Indigenous Defence and Infrastructure Consortium and Saber.
Airbus, BDA, and LMA have all requested the services of network infrastructure provider Clearbox Systems.
Meanwhile Optus, Raytheon Australia and Thales Australia have formed Team AUSSAT to support their push for the next-generation military SATCOM contract.
The JP9102 tender is scheduled to close on 24 December.
Isabella Richards
Bella Richards is a journalist who has written for several local newspapers, her university newspaper and a tech magazine, and completed her Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at the University of Technology Sydney in 2020. She joined Momentum Media in 2021, and has since written breaking news stories across Space Connect, Australian Aviation and World of Aviation.
You can email Bella on: [email protected]
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