Scott Nicholas
Boeing‘s Australia-based defense business unit has delivered a next-generation battlespace communications platform to the Australian defense force.
The Australian defence department said in a report published Tuesday the LAND 2072 Phase 2B project was built to offer data, video and voice services as well as help secure communications between the country’s deployed land units and headquarters.
A Boeing-led alliance won a potential $469.7 million contract in September 2015 for the development of a wideband infrastructure which Australian military personnel will use to transmit communications data around the world.
Marise Payne, Australia’s minister for defence, said the initial materiel release milestone demonstrates the dedication of Boeing and the Australian defense department to provide a NextGen communications platform for the ADF.
She added the LAND 2072 development effort also support efforts to modernize land network communications using an Integrated Battlespace Telecommunications Network.
The defence minister noted the Australian defence department anticipates the declaration of the I-BTN’s operational capability in 2018 during which an update communication kit will be distributed to members of the country’s army and air force.
