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Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price rejected rumours about the Elbit Battle Management System at the Defence Connect Budget Lunch last week.
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The Minister for Defence Industry rejected rumours that the Australian Army had ceased its contract with Elbit for use of Elbit’s Battle Management System (BMS) during the Defence Connect annual Budget Lunch last week.
Theories began circulating about the Australian Army’s relationship with Elbit late last month, with a handful of media sources speculating that the contract between the Army and Elbit had been suspended. According to one media outlet, the use of the BMS was to end within the next month.
In a discussion panel in front of over 190 leading members of defence industry, government and Defence, Minister Price denied the rumours.
“The Battle Management System has not been cancelled. Just so everyone understands that. That is actually untrue. I think it's important that we actually make sure we know what the truth is around that,” Minister Price said.
The comments from Minister Price came following a statement earlier this month from Elbit Systems of Australia managing director Major General (Ret'd) Paul McLachlan, AO, CSC, which also denied the rumours.
“Elbit Systems of Australia strongly refutes the security rumours raised in recent media articles,” McLachlan said in the statement.
“Elbit Systems of Australia utilises secure software development processes in collaboration with the Department of Defence, including the provision of all source code.
“Elbit Systems of Australia will continue to work closely with the Australian Defence Force to deliver its network capability requirements, utilising our 250-strong workforce, including 80 military veterans and 100 systems and software engineers.
“Elbit Systems of Australia is expanding and enhancing our proven ability to bring world-leading innovative technologies to meet Australian capability requirements for the Australian Defence Force, homeland security and emergency management agencies into the future.”
[Related: Elbit rejects BMS rumours]
