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Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy has announced a $200 million contract with Boeing Defence Australia to upgrade the Royal Australian Navy’s shipboard communications systems.
Boeing has signed a contract to modernise and enhance the Royal Australian Navy’s communications capabilities under SEA1442 Phase 5. This investment will create more than 50 local jobs, primarily in Brisbane, which will serve as the main hub for design and development work on the project.
Boeing Defence Australia’s (BDA) Maritime Warfighter Network will provide the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with a single, integrated and secure communications network. This state-of-the-art interoperable system will seamlessly connect Navy ships with joint and coalition assets, eliminating the need to route all communication paths back to Australia.
Minister Conroy highlighted the importance of these upgrades, saying, “These upgrades enhance Navy’s ability to conduct operational tasks, such as surveillance and multi-domain strike. This shows the Albanese government is ensuring our ADF personnel have access to a modern communication system that makes them better prepared to safeguard Australians and their interests.”
“Automation will provide Navy with the ability to easily use various communication transmission devices, reducing operator workload and enhancing operational effectiveness when deployed at sea,” said Murray Brabrook, BDA Joint Systems director.
Once delivered, the Maritime Warfighter Network will significantly bolster Navy’s capabilities in line with the National Defence Strategy. The project is consistent with the Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities outlined in the Albanese government’s Defence Industry Development Strategy and builds on the government’s previous investment of over $150 million in Australian-made satellite communications terminals for Navy vessels.
Project partner BMT will contribute its expertise in managing system integration across the maritime domain.
“This project displays our commitment to partnering to build stronger capability for our customers,” said Graeme Nayler, regional business director, APAC for BMT. “Having supported similar projects across the Australian naval fleet, we are experts at integrating complex systems into maritime platforms that will stand up to the rigours of sea deployment.”
BDA boasts one of the largest military communications-focused engineering workforces in Australia and will continually evolve the Australian-made communications technology to meet changing demands on the warfighter.
“Navy will be able to contribute to and benefit from this enduring evolution,” said Brabrook. “When combined with BMT’s expertise, we are positioned to accelerate delivery of a mature product to Navy.”
Installation on the first ship is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027, with all eight ships under the contract anticipated to be completed by mid-2029. This initiative is yet another example of the government’s commitment to building a defence future made in Australia.
