Boeing to upgrade Royal Australian Navy communications system

Boeing Defence Australia has been awarded a A$200 million (US$226 million) contract to deliver the ADF’s Project Sea 1442 Phase 5, a communications modernisation programme which aims to create an interoperable system known as the Maritime Warfighter Network (MWN).

Under the project it is planned to install the first integrated system on a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ship in the first quarter of 2027. Overall, there are eight ships that are part of the communications project, and it is anticipated that all of them will be fitted with the advanced system by mid-2029.

The government, following its Defence Strategic Review, said that a fully integrated ADF is necessary to have an influence over the strategic balance of power in the Oceania region contributing to national security.

Related Articles

Leonardo looks to next phase of Anzac communications upgrade

Australia looks to Thales for next-generation naval comms

Boeing Defence Australia completes deliveries for Project Currawong

Australia Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conner said that the improvements to the communications network would enhance the RAN’s ability to conduct operational tasks, particularly in surveillance and multi-domain strikes.

This latest contract is seeking to build on the government’s previous investment of more than A$150 million in Australian-made satellite communications (SATCOM) terminals for its navy vessels.

Matt Buckle, joint systems director at Boeing Defence Australia, said the “MWN is a resilient, interoperable and secure communications system”.

Buckle added: “The automated system connects military assets as a single network and switches seamlessly between multiple communications bearers, to make examples SATCOM, mobile broadband, and beyond line-of-sight radio.

“This enables continued communication through multiple paths and reduces operator workload, enhancing the RAN’s ability to support Joint Force capability outcomes.

“As for the Single Integrated Communications Network, Boeing Defence Australia’s MWN builds on the Integrated Battlefield Telecommunication Network (IBTN), which was developed by Boeing Defence Australia under Land 2072 Phase 2B or Project Currawong.

“This was previously delivered to the army and air force [to provide] Joint Force capability outcomes.”

The MWN leverages mature technology developed by Boeing Defence Australia for the IBTN, which meets the requirements for an integrated deployed network, and will be evolved and enhanced to meet the requirements of a maritime environment.

Buckle said: “Now on contract, we are performing incremental integration and deployment activities to complete installation on the first ship and will deploy capability at speed across the remaining platforms subject to fleet availability.”

Creating the connectivity

Prior to the communications contract being awarded to them, Boeing invested in a MWN prototype and proved its applicability to realistic operational scenarios through a series of test events, enabling them to provide speed to capability.

The sample models were built as part of Boeings collaboration with bidding partner BMT. All of the prototypes were locally designed and contained a significant 90% Australian-made components, which were underpinned by existing and new domestic suppliers for the project.

In February 2023 both parties evaluated the communications structure, achieving positive results in improving the navy’s fleet connectivity to the land and air ADF.

During the test the team validated its networking and management software, that included meshed broadband line-of-sight radios and wired and wireless shore connectivity, otherwise known as NINShore.

The trials also demonstrated task group, joint and strategic connectivity showing its resilience using multiple platform bearers, which is a key requirement of the defence force’s Joint Black Core Network. The IBTN was in service with the ADF for five years leading up to the prototype trial.

Supporting the industrial base

The project supports the Albanese government’s Defence Industry Development Strategy, which mapped out the domestic industrial base needed to meet the demands of evolving military strategic circumstances. Continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment is one of the strategy’s priorities, alongside the development and integration of autonomous systems.

The defence industry already employs 100,000 Australians, but the vision of the strategy is to strengthen the partnership further between defence and firms in the industry.

Overall, the government has said it would invest between A$123 billion and A$159 billion over the next decade in the acquisition and upgrade of maritime capabilities, and more than A$2 billion annually in fleet sustainment. It claimed this investment would support at least 8,500 direct jobs in naval shipbuilding and sustainment by 2030, as well as 20,000 direct jobs in support of the nuclear-powered submarine programme over the next 30 years.

An Australian Department of Defence spokesperson said: “Brisbane-based EM Solutions is upgrading the RAN’s Primary and Alternate SATCOM terminals to deliver and sustain modern, resilient and tactically relevant terminals that will provide a marked improvement in interoperability, performance, and usability for the Navy.

“The Australian government’s 2024 Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Plan reaffirmed its commitment to continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment in Australia,” the spokesperson said. 

Boeing Defence Australia noted that the MWN will require a multi-disciplinary engineering team including systems and software engineers, mechanical engineers, structural engineers, security engineers, technicians and project management specialists.