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The company has teamed up with three local firms to strengthen its push to deliver a next-generation soldier system for Army.
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Babcock Australasia has announced partnerships with Shoal Group, Buzzworks and Bond University’s Tactical Research Unit, as part of its bid to secure the commonwealth government’s LAND 125 Phase 4 Integrated Soldier System (ISS) contract.
The partnership is expected to be supported by the planned establishment of a Future Australian Soldier System Technology Centre (FASST-C).
According to Babcock, the organisations were selected due to their credentials in collaboration, domain knowledge, and experience supporting key Army projects.
Specifically:
- Shoal Group is expected to provide systems engineering and verification and validation services for the program, focused on providing sophisticated digital capability models to the FASST-C to ensure that operational needs are identified and met.
- Buzzworks is tipped to provide subject matter expertise and integration support in next-generation soldier combat systems and related technology.
- Bond University’s Tactical Research Unit has been tasked with providing specialist capability relating to human factors and biomechanical studies on current, in-development and future soldier system capability.
Speaking at the Land Forces Conference in Brisbane, Babcock’s head of customer solutions (defence and security) Craig Schwartz said these latest developments form part of a broader commitment to bolster collaboration between the government, Defence, and local industry.
“A key tenet of our approach includes engaging with adjacent programs to understand their needs and requirements — working collaboratively to manage integration risk and unlock opportunities,” he said.
“The net result is what we call ‘best for soldier’. This provides a better outcome for the country than project decisions made in isolation.”
The FASST-C is set to facilitate the development of disruptive technologies designed to enhance the lethality, range and survivability of Australian soldiers.
The facility is to be complemented by a technical support network, tasked with bringing specific domain knowledge needed for the integration of soldier systems with adjacent defence capability.
Features of the facility include a digital engineering environment and bespoke physical development, integration, and testing environment.
“Public-facing zones will host and support visiting suppliers to support, incubate and grow local industry to meet the needs of the Commonwealth, and be internationally competitive,” Schwartz said.
“…Our approach to Land 125-4 centres on an operating model that attracts innovation, rewards collaboration and avoids creating risk of commercial and intellectual property friction.”
[Related: Babcock and A&P team up to bid for RMP East ]
