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Commonwealth Awards BAE SYSTEMS Australia A$75 Million Astis Contract

28 Nov 2003

BAE Systems Australia has been awarded a contract to provide strategically important elements of the Advanced Satellite Communications Terrestrial Infrastructure within the ADFs Military Satellite Communications Programme JP2008.

Under the A$75 million contract, BAE Systems Australia will furnish the satellite communications infrastructure to give mobile and deployed forces the capability to transfer information for Command Control and the capability to access other information. . It aims to extend the strategic level Defence Information Environment (DIE) to the operational and tactical environments using the Defence owned communications payload operating on board the recently launched C1 satellite.

This project is a vital element in the Australian Defence Force's (ADFs) emerging battlespace communications upgrade. The win reinforces our position as Australia's leading prime systems integrator of military communications systems, said Andrew Makin, General Manager of C3I, BAE Systems Australia.

The sophisticated Satellite Communications Systems that BAE Systems Australia will develop and install under the contract will be tailored to suit the demands of the military operational environment, primarily on naval vessels.

BAE Systems Australia has teamed with partners Astrium, Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) and EM Solutions for the project.

The Advanced Satellite Communications Terrestrial Infrastructure System (ASTIS) design and development work will be undertaken at BAE Systems Australias sites in South Australia and Canberra. The Through Life Support contract will be carried out through the company's Sydney office.

BAE Systems Australia currently supplies the ADF with more than 90% of their mobile tactical and trunk communications equipment. There are natural synergies between the ASTIS project and the excellent satellite communications work being done by the BAE Systems Australia Parakeet team in Adelaide and Sydney, Mr Makin said.

We are confident that we can utilise the same project management, systems integration and engineering capability to meet and exceed the expectations of our customer in this important programme, he said.

About BAE SYSTEMS:

BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery and support of advanced defence and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea and in space. The company designs, manufactures and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years. It is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defence systems.

BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company has more than 90,000 people and generates annual sales of approximately 12 billion through its wholly-owned and joint venture operations.

In Australia, the company employs 2,500 people, supports customers at more than 50 locations across the country and has its centre of operations in Adelaide. BAE Systems Australia is a leader in engineering and systems integration and is a major supplier of support services, electronics and software.

BAE Systems, innovating for a safer world.