Page 57 - Australian Defence Magazine April 2020

With an extensive history
of innovation, design and engineering, Avon Protection are at the forefront of advanced military digital diving technology.
Avon Protection offer end to end in-country support and full service capability via our Australian partners, Owen International.
LEFT: The Lockheed Martin team that worked on JORN has now transitioned onto other tasks.
We have significantly grown the Lockheed Martin team at RAAF Base Williamtown – now more than 100 staff supporting F-35 and our existing tactical radar program.
We have also established long term for- mal relationships and agreements with Defence, local SME companies including Varley and Milskil and STEM institutions including the University of Newcastle, to ensure that we are growing the local work- force and leading edge technology jobs to sustain the F-35 for the decades ahead and provide Australian industry with the ability to contribute to the global F-35 program.
ADM: How has the JORN transition af- fected the business?
NORTH: We’re very proud of our involvement with the Jindalee Operational Radar Net- work (JORN). In the late 1990s Lockheed Martin Australia was responsible for the design and fielding the system. In 2002 it became operational and then we sustained it. Our long association with the JORN program continues through our work on re- search and development programs in high frequency radar and our focus has shifted to supporting JORN through the Engineer- ing Services Contract which will provide substantial work through mid-2021 and possible beyond in support of the RAAF.
While it was a surprise for our team to have a reduced role on JORN, we’ve had a successful transition to other major projects and there’s been amazing growth across our business. We now employ more than 1,000 highly skilled people across a broad business portfolio in every mainland state and territory in Australia. Our pro- grams and projects support an additional 3,954 Australian industry jobs in advanced manufacturing and high technology indus- tries providing Australia with important sovereign capability.
Our large footprint ensures we will con- tinue to deliver exceptional program perfor- mance and leading innovation across key programs including the Future Submarines, the AWD future upgrades, the Hunter Class and the delivery and sustainment of the world’s most advanced fighter jet, the F-35. And we’re doing exciting work within the joint air battlement domain, so the future in Lockheed Martin Australia is bright. ■
57
© Royal Norwegian Navy