• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

BAE SYSTEMS signs contract for communications project

30 Mar 2001

Ref: 048/2001

BAE Systems Australia has secured a sub-contract to supply Boeing Australia Limited with the Organisational Message Server (OMS) for the High Frequency Modernisation Project (HFMP).

"The contract reinforces BAE Systems' position as a leading supplier of military communications software," said Mike Mendoza, regional managing director, BAE Systems.

The OMS will exchange messages between mobile platforms and external users that are connected through a variety of defence communications services.

Designed and developed by BAE Systems Australia, the OMS solution is based on the company's proven MERCURY Messaging System. Mercury already provides secure, inter-operable cost-effective messaging solutions to Australian and overseas defence forces and will be further enhanced to meet the unique HFMP requirements.

Mercury has been undergoing ongoing incremental development since it entered service with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in 1994. It is being used in a variety of ADF strategic and tactical applications including use in East Timor and the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

It can be operated from Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes applications through the BAE Systems' NEM (Notes Exchange Mercury) connector and also supports standard e-mail functions such as the attachment of data and image files.

The ADF has purchased a Mercury corporate licence and support contract that enables them to deploy Mercury to desktops and networks without further recourse to BAE Systems.

"BAE Systems Australia is a leading supplier of communications technology and our military messaging systems are being used by an increasing number of customers around the world," said Mr Mendoza. "Mercury's further expansion across the Defence Information Environment is evidence of the integration of formal messaging functionality into COTS solutions. The product makes formal messaging as easy to use as COTS e-mail applications and is provided at significantly lower cost than previous legacy systems."

Boeing Australia Limited was awarded the prime contract for the High Frequency Modernisation Project (HFMP) by the Australian Defence Force in 1998. The contract, valued at more than $300 million is due for completion in 2004 with the majority of the work, including a substantial investment in R&D, being done in Australia.

As part of the sub-contract to Boeing, BAE Systems will be responsible for developing new functions, supporting integration trials and providing operational training. BAE Systems is also providing HFMP trusted filters under a separate sub-contract with Boeing.